Libertines rocker Pete Doherty has blamed a broken dashboard light after he was caught speeding four times in just three weeks.

The Margate musician claims the fault meant he could not see how fast he was driving each time he was flashed by a speed camera on the same 30mph stretch in Cliftonville.

But his excuses failed to help him avoid a six-month driving ban and fines of close to £10,000 after it emerged he already had nine penalty points on his licence.

He was heard to mutter "ouch" after hearing he would have to fork out £2,307 for each offence - a total of £9,228 and close to a month's wages for the singer.

Folkestone magistrates were told the 40-year-old had been flashed by a camera four times along Northdown Hill - little more than a mile from his new hotel in Margate.

On each occasion he was at the wheel of a 13-year-old VW Transporter van.

The camera first caught him at 40mph on New Year's Eve last year, and again at 38mph five days later.

The following day, on January 6, he was flashed while travelling 36mph - the same speed he registered for the final offence on January 20.

Four penalty notices dropped on the doormat of the former Babyshambles frontman, and for each he coughed up £100 and accepted three penalty points.

But he was hauled before the court when it was discovered the additional points would bring the total on his licence to 21.

Defending himself, he told magistrates: "There's not a lot to say, really. My dashboard had a faulty light and I did the best I could because I couldn't see the speed that I was doing, because it was dark. I was staggered when I got the first notice."

Doherty, who told the court he earns £10,000 a month, says he expects a return visit to court soon having recently been stopped by police while riding an electric scooter, which are currently illegal to use on UK roads and pavements.

"I have a feeling that I might be back in here soon, because I bought an electric scooter and drove it down by the beach and was pulled over by two police officers," he explained.

"They had to go away on an emergency call but they gave me a notice and said I would hear from the court."

Chairman of the bench Andrew Henderson told Doherty he is banned from "piloting any propelled vehicle on British highways and roads for six months".

"That means this electric scooter you mentioned as well," he added.

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