The interview Pete Doherty of The Libertines claimed he had given to The Sun newspaper about his quitting the band (as reported on Indigo Flow on Thursday – here) has now surfaced. In it Doherty not only claims that he is leaving the band, saying, “Surely no one wants to see me trapped in this cage that is only making me miserable,” but that he was treated badly by bandmate Carlos Barat.

The band have recently completed the second album, recorded with former Clash guitarist Mick Jones in Amsterdam, and are due to tour later this month.

Doherty’s well documented stay in the priory this month did not help his drug addiction, claims the guitarist, “I was barely aware of what was going on in (rehab). All these visitors were coming in to see me and saying they were my family and my sisters - but really they weren’t. I want to clean up but it’s something I have to do on my own terms.”

Now his plans are to go away to France with his girlfriend in order to clean up.

On his relationship with Barat he says, “It’s got to the point where Carl and I don’t speak except on stage. It breaks my heart. He treats me badly and every time I come running back like a battered housewife. I feel like I’m seeking the ghost of a former friendship but Carl gave up on me years ago. He did come to see me in The Priory but I hardly remember his visit.”

However, he does not rule out the possibility of a reconsiliation: “If (Carl) comes and grabs me by the hand, maybe we can reclaim the empire together. But for now I’m out of the band. Surely no one wants to see me trapped in this cage that is only making me miserable.”

Announcing that he had given this interview on his website (www.babyshambles.com) last Wednesday Doherty wrote, “I spoke to the sun, confidentiality the key. How much for the exclusive Doherty Junkie Theif Scum quits Libertines with broken heart, feels detached uglyoh the man who came to stay.. what is going on? normality, tender, sober thoughts return to that same betrayal of myself”.