Pete Doherty has been banned from driving after riding an electric scooter to search for his missing dog in the middle of the night.
The 40-year-old Libertines rocker, who was already on a driving ban after totting up more than 12 points on his licence last year, says he didn’t know he wasn’t able to ride the e-scooter while disqualified when he went looking for his beloved pooch at 1.40am on October 3.
It emerged during a hearing at Margate Magistrates Court on Friday that prior to the offence Doherty had been informed by police officers, who had stopped for selfies with the star in Broadstairs, that he was able to ride the scooter as long as he stayed on the pavement.
Pete Doherty has been banned from driving after riding an electric scooter to search for his missing dog in the middle of the night (Image: FilmMagic)
The singer-songwriter was later stopped by police attending a 999 call when they spotted him riding on the path with his two dogs in the middle of the night, when he was heading home after finding his missing pet.
Officers later asked Doherty to show an insurance certificate, which he was unable to provide but he was sent on his way.
The Libertines rocker says he didn’t know he wasn’t able to ride the e-scooter while disqualified (Image: PA)
Paul Shingleton, representing Doherty, said it wasn’t until several months later Doherty received a court summons on charges of driving while disqualified and without insurance.
Mr Shingleton told the court: “It was not very clear to all and sundry what the rules were.
“His dog had escaped and he went to find him and he was on his way back home when he was stopped by police.
“It wasn’t a case of someone [who is disqualified] driving a car in defiance.
Pete was later stopped by police when they spottd him riding an electric scooter on a path with his two dogs (Image: Instagram)
“The case has an oddness about it with some unusual factors.”
Doherty pleaded guilty to both charges in addition to another of driving a car without insurance in August, before his initial ban.
He received a £2,000 fine for each offence, adding up to a total of £6,000, and was given six points on his licence, taking him over the 12 point limit meaning a two year disqualification from driving.
On sentencing, the magistrate said the two stops by police had “misled” Doherty into thinking it was OK to drive the scooter.
He said: “It was a poor exchange – a couple of selfies for some bad information.”
Doherty is an English musician, songwriter, actor, poet, writer, and artist.
He is best known for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he formed with Carl Barât in 1997.
His other musical projects are indie band Babyshambles and Peter Doherty and the Puta Madres.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
