PETE DOHERTY - U.N. EXPERT CALLS FOR TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR DRUG-TAKING STARS

U.N. EXPERT CALLS FOR TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR DRUG-TAKING STARS

A United Nations expert has slammed British authorities for letting drug-taking celebrities like PETE DOHERTY and AMY WINEHOUSE escape tough penalties for their illegal exploits. Professor Hamid Ghodse claims the U.K.'s judicial system is too lenient on stars who constantly break the law, letting them off with fines and probation instead of sending them to prison. He says, "There should not be any difference between a celebrity who is breaking the law and non-celebrities. "It gives the wrong message to young people, who are often quite impressionable, and the wider public become cynical about responses to drug offenders. A number of people have got a lenient response in the U.K. and around the world." Babyshambles rocker Doherty has escaped jail on several occasions after being caught with hard drugs like heroine and cocaine, while Winehouse was last month (Feb08) granted an American visa despite her arrest in Norway last year (07) on suspicion of marijuana possession.