Pete Doherty's Legal Ultimatum

No word yet on whether Kate Moss is feeling as magnanimous, but a London judge, at least, has offered Pete Doherty a second chance. By our tally, Doherty's second chances now number somewhere in the triple digits.

The pharmaceutically inclined rocker pleaded guilty to a litany of drug charges Tuesday in West London Magistrates Court (his home away from home), copping to possession of crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, ketamine and two drunken-driving charges stemming from a May 5 arrest.

The 28-year-old Babyshambles singer turned up in court nearly two and a half hours late, prompting Judge Davinder Lacchar to twice summon Doherty's lawyer for an explanation, which said barrister feebly chalked up to an unforeseen "difficulty in his personal life." That didn't sit too well with the impatient judge, who issued a warrant for the rocker's arrest.

"This is a court of law," Lacchar announced prior to Doherty's arrival. "He should have been here at 9:30 a.m., and he isn't. I am giving a warrant with no bail."

When Doherty finally rolled in just before noon, wearing a dark suit and trademark trilby, he told the throng of waiting photographers that he was "a little nervous" about the hearing.

Once inside, Lacchar told Doherty she would defer sentencing in his case until next month, on the now familiar condition that he enter yet another detox program and refrain from getting busted on any drug-related offenses. However, unlike judges past who have praised Doherty's efforts, Lacchar said her praise would be offered only for results.

"If you go to this place to have detox and take advantage of it, then we will see what sentence is appropriate when you next come. But if you do not, I can tell you now that you will go into custody," she said.

After entering his initial plea, along with a brand-spanking-new charge of failing to appear in court without a reasonable excuse, Doherty began weeping and was unable to clearly give his address, forcing his lawyer, Sean Curran, to step up and hand over the information.

For his part, Curran argued in court that his client had the drugs, all of which were found on Doherty or in his car at the time of his arrest two months ago, because he  was under a lot of stress at the time, especially since he was working on a new album. Curran also argued that Doherty's profession and the intense media interest in his life made it difficult to manage his addiction.

"But he has a lot of days off," the judge interrupted. "What about the people who work five days a week?"

Lacchar also paid little attention to Curran's suggestion that it would be in Doherty's best interest to stay off the road, saying, "I am more concerned about the danger to other members of the public on the road and to pedestrians."

Upon exiting the courtroom, Doherty was asked by reporters if he intended on abiding by the judge's ruling.

"I've got no choice, have I? She said all options are considered, and that if I do not attend detox, I will go to jail. It's rehab or jail."

"I was going to rehab anyway, to be honest with you, but this is a little push."

Doherty last appeared in a separate court in April, when Judge Jane McIvor praised his efforts in "more than cooperating" with court-ordered rehab.

The rocker was ordered back to Lacchar's court to check on his progress and be sentenced on Aug. 7.

In the meantime, Doherty's ability to evade jail time, at least at present, isn't the only headline-worthy aspect of the rocker's life. British tabloids are reporting that his on-off relationship with Moss may be off again, after he allegedly cheated on her with a South African model.

While neither Moss nor Doherty have spoken out on the rumors, tabloid reports say Moss has fled Britain for Paris with daughter Lila Grace in order to get over the (latest) breakup. Which might put a crimp on any wedding plans.

Last month, in published excerpts of Doherty's journal, which are being released in the U.K. this week as The Books of Albion, the rocker wrote that if he remained "smack and needle-free we shall marry in the summer and I become 10 times happier than any given smackhead. Huzzah!"