The Continuing Misadventures of Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty may be trying to kick his bad habits, but in the meantime he's settling for slightly more attainable targets: reporters.

Shortly after pleading guilty to drug-possession charges in a London court Thursday, the Babyshambles frontman and frequent arrestee lashed out at reporters, kicking one in the arm and knocking a mike out of her hand.

The incident occurred as Doherty, 26, was leaving Thames Magistrates Courthouse. Nearly 50 reporters were on hand to cover the hearing, leading the perpetually troubled and suddenly press-shy rocker to climb a wall surrounding the building in order to, presumably, escape the throng.

While on his perch, he attempted to kick a microphone from BBC Radio 1 reporter Trudi Barber's hand, and in doing so connected with her elbow.

"It was total chaos here outside the court both when he arrived and when he left," Barber said. "Afterward, he leapt over the railings outside the court. All of a sudden, he lashed out, kicking me in the arm that was holding the microphone."

British reports on the incident vary, with some accounts calling the kick "playful" and others describing the scene as "a violent fracas."

Whichever it was, Doherty wasted no time in fleeing the scene, jumping over the trunk of his parked Jaguar and into the driver's seat, nearly colliding with another car while pulling out.

Before getting his post-court kicks, the self-confessed drug addict managed to tend to some actual business.

Kate Moss' infamous ex arrived nearly two hours late for his 20-minute hearing on seven counts of drug possession stemming from arrests on Dec. 18 and Jan. 14. The court date had been postponed from earlier this month in order to allow both sides more time to prepare.

While in court, the rocker pleaded guilty to possessing a laundry list of illegal substances, including heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis resin and cannabis--despite judge Jane McIvor's warning that, should he cop to the charges, he could be sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.

"I plead guilty to each of these charges," Doherty said.

The rocker's lawyer, Sean Curran, asked the judge to delay sentencing on the charges for six months in order to see how his client progressed.

"I would not like the court to impose anything that would go against the grain," Curran said. "He is a very talented man. Unfortunately, every move he makes has been in the spotlight."

Doherty is already under court order to submit to monthly drug tests stemming from sentencing on a slew of separate drug charges he pleaded guilty to in February. While Doherty tested positive for drugs at his first review earlier this month, the judge still praised him for his "positive progress," noting the amount of substances present in his bloodstream were far lower than expected.

Though not necessarily for lack of trying.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Doherty reportedly kicked off the Q&A by downing a veritable buffet of illegal substances.

"Over the next three hours, Doherty will also smoke crack, shoot heroin and take an Ecstasy pill," the New York Post quotes the article as saying. "He does all of this casually, and openly, except for the shooting up, which he performs near the kitchenette, with his back to us...The more drugs Doherty does, the more he seems to relax. He never becomes incoherent, though occasionally he seems confused."

Curran, meanwhile, said that while his client obviously has "got a problem," his last review was a positive step for the rocker and showed he was heading in the direction of recovery.

"If Mr. Doherty shows the inclination he has had on his first review, the court may look more favorably on him," Curran argued in court. "It will mean he can continue with the good work he has done under this order. It is still at its initial stages."

Judge McIvor agreed to postpone sentencing on the rocker's current charges until Apr. 20, "which will mean we will know the results of his next review on Apr. 12." She told Doherty to be aware that "all options" could be sentencing possibilities, including hefty fines, more community service and even jail time.

Barring further disaster, the Doherty-fronted Babyshambles is set to perform tonight as part of a rock lineup at London's KOKO club.