Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty will still headline a Clapham festival tonight despite again pleading guilty to drugs charges and checking into rehab, insist organisers.

Doherty, 27, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis at Thames Magistrates Court last Friday, for the third time this year.

And having been let off with a rehabilitation order on the two previous cases, fans were fearing the worst.

However, through a bizarre piece of fortune and legal argument it seems festival-goers will not be disappointed.

Babyshambles have been top of the bill for London's biggest indie-dance music festival, the Metro Weekender, on Clapham Common, on the August Bank Holiday weekend, since back in April when organiser Turnmills excitedly announced the coup of securing the troubled band for an exclusive festival performance.

Yet Doherty was in a cell just days later, immediately creating doubts whether there would be a no-show.

But despite Doherty being ordered straight back to the Priory for rehab last week, he will not actually be sentenced, and possibly jailed, until the week after he performs to the Clapham crowds.

Even though his bail conditions stipulate a 10pm to 8am curfew, a special arrangement was made to let him honour his Metro Weekender commitment after his lawyer argued that preventing his appearance could lead to further lapses in his condition.

Despite claims to the contrary in a number of national newspapers this week, Turnmills have insisted: "Pete will be there."