Pete Doherty

Doherty allowed to play as curfew is relaxed

By Elisa Bray

Published : 22 February 2005

The rock singer Pete Doherty has been granted a one-off change in his bail conditions so he can perform with his band at a gig tonight.

A judge told the former singer with the Libertines, who faces charges of robbery and blackmail, that he could stay out until midnight, a two-hour extension on his curfew, to play a gig with his latest band, Babyshambles. Earlier this month, Doherty, 25, was arrested at the Rookery Hotel in Islington after an alleged dispute with the documentary maker Max Carlish, and spent five nights in a cell before being released on bail.

Alan Wass, 23, a guitarist with the band Left Hand, also appeared in court charged for the same offences, which both musicians have denied.

Doherty's lawyer, Eamonn Sherry QC, asked Judge David Radford at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London for the singer's 10pm to 7am curfew to be changed to midnight to 7am. Doherty plans to play tonight for 5,000 fans at the Brixton Academy ­ his biggest gig to date with his new band.

The judge agreed to a request from his lawyer to reduce Doherty's surety from £150,000 to £100,000, adding changes to bail conditions should not be a "too regular occurrence".

Doherty performed at a gig at the Garage, in Highbury, north London, last night but had to be home by 10pm.

Meanwhile Carl Barat, who founded the Libertines' with Doherty, signalled the end of the band after he announced that he was going solo. He also said he was forming a new band, which could include another member of the Libertines.

© 2005 Independent News & Media (UK) Ltd.