Libertines star faces jail

The former frontman of up-and-coming pop band The Libertines was warned he faces jail today after he admitted burgling the home of the group's lead singer in an act of revenge.

Peter Doherty, 24, pleaded guilty to raiding the home of lead singer Carl Barat while the award-winning group were touring Japan.

The former guitarist and co-frontman with the band - whose hits include What A Waster, Up The Bracket and Time For Heroes - confessed to the crime when he was questioned by police.

Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court heard that Doherty kicked his way into Mr Barat's basement flat in Harley Street, Mayfair, on 25 July this year.

The clerk of the court read out the list of items Doherty was alleged to have snatched, including an antique guitar, video recorder, laptop computer, CD player, an NME award and £200 cash. When asked to enter his plea, Doherty replied: "I plead guilty apart from the NME award and cash which I know nothing about."

Prosecutor Emma Jones conceded that the award and cash had not been taken by the singer.

Outlining the case, she told the court: "The defendant Mr Doherty had an acrimonious fall-out with other band members and was dropped from the group. Following the report of the burglary being made, enquiries by the police led to Mr Doherty becoming a suspect.

"When he was approached by officers he broke down in tears and said: 'I have broken into my best friend's flat - I can't believe it.'"

Doherty later told police that all the belongings were in his Ford Escort car. Richard Locke, in mitigation for Doherty, said his client had confessed to the burglary to his former girlfriend who in turn contacted Mr Barat's sister.

Chairman of the bench Kerri Cutner adjourned the hearing until 8 September for a pre-sentencing report telling Doherty: "Custody remains an option."

Doherty was ordered to remove a pen that he was sucking from his mouth during today's 10-minute hearing. The shaven-headed singer, of Eynham Road, North Kensington, fidgeted and made notes in a notebook throughout the hearing.

He was granted bail on condition that he lives at his home address, but Doherty said he wanted to move after claiming his landlord was opening his mail. Mrs Cutner told Doherty he should inform the court when he has a new address.

Doherty walked out on The Libertines on the eve of a European tour earlier this year.