Pete Doherty in rehab again

Troubled British rocker Pete Doherty has checked himself into a detox clinic in Portugal, his lawyer told a court Friday.

The 27-year-old Babyshambles frontman was not present for a scheduled hearing on the progress of a court-ordered rehabilitation program following his arrests for drug possession.

Calling Doherty's nonattendance — the third straight time he had failed to appear — "unfortunate," Sean Curran requested the next drug treatment review be set within six to seven weeks. A spokeswoman for the court confirmed the next drug review hearing would be July 13.

District Judge Jane McIvor excused Doherty's absence, saying he was not on bail or charged with anything at the moment.

"There's a valid reason for him not being here," she said, adding that Doherty's efforts to overcome drug addiction must be a "tough struggle for him."

Doherty was arrested April 20 for suspected drug possession after being placed on probation over a Dec. 18 incident in which police found marijuana, heroin and crack cocaine in his car and clothing.

The former Libertines singer has reportedly been fitted with an opiate-suppressing implant at the Portugal clinic, where he had checked himself in Monday, Curran said.

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