Pete Doherty released on technicality

Rocker wasn’t brought to London court within 24 hours of arrest

Lefteris Pitarakis / AP

British musician Pete Doherty smiles to members of the media after he was released without charge, outside a court in London, Tuesday, a day after being arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs.

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updated 10:36 a.m. ET Aug. 21, 2007

LONDON - Pete Doherty was released Tuesday without being charged with breaching his bail conditions after authorities failed to get him to court on time.

Doherty, who has been undergoing court-ordered rehabilitation treatment, was arrested Monday in east London on suspicion of possessing drugs, police said.

The charge of breaching his bail conditions was dismissed because the 28-year-old rocker had not been brought to court within 24 hours, said prosecutor Anjulika Vatish.

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“The court has no jurisdiction to deal with this matter anymore,” she said at West London Magistrates’ Court.

Earlier this month, a judge warned Doherty that he must prove his desire to quit drugs within a month or face a jail sentence for previous offenses.

Doherty, best known as the off-on boyfriend of Kate Moss, has admitted possessing crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis and ketamine, as well as to two driving offenses.