Bloated Pete Doherty seen after driving ban for riding scooter in dog chase

Libertines frontman Pete Doherty has been banned from driving again after riding an e-scooter in the middle of the night.

The musician says he was searching for one of his dogs which went missing hours before.

He was already on a driving ban after totting up more than 12 points on his licence last year.

The star claimed he had “no idea” he was not allowed to ride the e-scooter while disqualified and claimed police told him he could as long as he stayed on the pavement.

Doherty appeared at Margate Magistrates Court looking bloated as he was also fined.

The singer, who lives in the Kent seaside town and runs a hotel, was stopped by police in the early hours of the morning as he rode on a path at 1.40am on October 3.

He was stopped when they spotted him riding on the path with his two dogs in the middle of the night.

Officers later asked Doherty to show an insurance certificate, which he was unable to provide.

He later found the missing husky and returned home.

Paul Shingleton, representing Doherty, 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.

“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 and meaning a two-year disqualification from driving.