Charges dropped against Doherty

Doherty has had a stomach implant to help fight his drug habit

Singer Pete Doherty has had charges he breached bail conditions dropped.

The 28-year-old was due to appear before West London magistrates after he was arrested on suspected drug offences in east London on Monday.

The charge of breaching conditional bail was dropped as he was not produced before the court within 24 hours. Police admitted a mistake was made.

Doherty had been warned by a judge he faced jail if he did not kick his drug habit at an earlier hearing.

The singer had admitted driving illegally while in possession of a number of drugs in High Street Kensington, west London, on 5 May.

Police error

He was held in the early hours of Monday in the Tower Hamlets area hours after performing at the V Festival.

At Tuesday's hearing, prosecutor Anjulika Vatish said: "The court has no jurisdiction to deal with this matter any more."

She said Doherty, who did not appear in court, had been released.

Police admitted they had made an error in not getting him in front of the court with 24 hours.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Senior officers from Tower Hamlets are currently reviewing processes to establish why Mr Doherty was unable to be brought before the court within the 24-hour time frame.

"It would be inappropriate to go into any further detail until the MPS is absolutely clear about the exact sequence of events."

Doherty is under bail conditions imposed at a previous hearing, when he admitted various drugs and driving offences, and is to be sentenced for these at a later date.

The singer had undergone a stomach implant to help him kick drugs.