THE SMITHS - MORRISSEY: 'DOHERTY CAN'T COPE'

Former THE SMITHS frontman MORRISSEY has hit out at the way the British media trivialises BABYSHAMBLES frontman PETE DOHERTY's drug-taking.

Doherty - who is dating supermodel KATE MOSS - has been through several unsuccessful spells in rehab in a bid to beat addictions to crack cocaine and heroin, and Morrissey feels he should be helped, not encouraged.

The singer says, "I'm not sure he can cope. There's a desperation to him. I sense he's on thin ice.

"It's all very giggle-worthy for NME (British music magazine) to report two hours after a gig that he's in a crack house in Glasgow (Scotland) but I don't find that amusing."