Marlborough's Doherty fined for taking heroin to court

Doherty, who arrived at Gloucester Mgistrates Court 40 minutes late for today's hearing, claimed he had not realised the heroin was in the pocket of a jacket he had put on in a hurry that day.

He pleaded guilty to possessing 4 grammes of heroin worth £192 at the Gloucester Crown Court building on December 21 and was fined £750 with an order to pay £100 costs.

District judge Joti Bopa Rai questioned whether Doherty had taken the drugs to court with him as a publicity stunt but the suggestion was denied by Bruce Clark, defending.

He said it was not a mickey take and that Doherty had simply failed to realise the packet was in the pocket of a jacket he put on that morning to attend court.

Malcolm Hayes, prosecuting, said Doherty was being checked by security officer Richard Dando at the crown court last month and was asked to turn out his pockets.

As he did so a plastic bag fell to the flor. Mr Dando checked it and found thirteen blue bags inside. They were later found to contain a total of 4 grammes of heroin.

Doherty, who was appearing at the crown court that day for motoring and drugs offences, told police he had travelled that morning from Nottingham to his home in Marlborough, where he had put on a suit given to him by one of is staff.

He had not realised the heroin was in the pocket, he said.

Judge Bopa Rai said she was surprised that Doherty could be so stupid as to take drugs with him when he was attending coourt. She said she was also concerned thatr Doherty had not yet paid the £2,210 in fines and costs imposed on him at last month's crown court.

Mr Clark said Doherty had relied on his accountant to settle it but Judge Bopa Rai said it was his responsibility and she ordered him to pay all the outstanding money - last month's penalty and today's - immediately.

Doherty left court being congratulated on the outcome of the case by some of the dozen fans who packed into the courtroom to watch his case.