Singer serves less than a month of his sentence
Rock star Pete Doherty is set to walk free from Wormwood Scrubs prison today, after serving just 29 days of his 14-week sentence.
The Babyshambles frontman was serving time for having violated his probation order and for using drugs.
Despite claims that Doherty took heroin in his cell in the Wormwood Scrubs detox wing, he will be freed as part of a government scheme to ease overcrowding in prisons.
Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who previously said Doherty's imprisonment was "long overdue", was critical of the move to release the singer before he had served his time.
"Nobody should ever come out that early,” she told The Sun newspaper.
The singer was moved to a secure unit of the prison last month amid concerns that other inmates were planning to attack him. The move was said to be for his own protection.
Following his incarceration, Doherty’s solo gig at the Royal Albert Hall, planned for 26 April, had to be postponed and new reports claim the re-scheduled event will now feature a duet with singer Amy Winehouse.
Doherty’s release also means his appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in late June will go ahead as planned.
May 6, 2008