A FORMER drug addict from Bromsgrove is assisting the Libertines frontman Pete Doherty in his road to addiction recovery.

Dylan Kerr, originally from Stoke Prior, is now head councillor at Hope Rehab Center, which overlooks the Port of Sian, near Bangkok in Thailand.

Over the past few weeks, Dylan has been helping the musician to overcome his heroin dependence whilst also learning more about the person behind the reputation and drugs.

“Peter is incredibly down to earth and sensitive. He is incredibly poetic and creative. He definitely has a real spark, it’s real shame how his life has been marred by drug use,” Dylan said.

“It is rather shameless how he has been so heavily targeted by the press. I think if people really met him they wouldn't believe all the rubbish printed about him over the years.

“My own personal drug use was a lot shorter lived and less hardcore than Peter, but nevertheless it still caused the same damage in my life.

“Disconnection with loved ones, trouble with livelihood, loss of self respect and a mark upon my good name.

“I get on great with Peter, we're both really big fans of the same music - in particular the Smiths. It did come as a bit of surprise at first to be working with Peter, I quite liked the Baby Shambles and Libertines.

“It was a little surreal when Carl Barât turned up and I took them both to go see the local monkeys.”

During Pete’s time at the rehab centre, he has taken up the Chinese martial art of tai chi and the mindfulness program carried out by Alon Kumsawad, the co-founder of Hope Rehab Center.

Pete said: “Drugs can turn you into a monster but this is a calm healing place far from that.

“My view of life and the world was distorted enough before I took drugs. The drugs distorted my view even more until it became impossible.

“In group someone asked me when are you going to start caring about yourself – that really breaks my heart, I am getting goosebumps thinking about it.”

Whilst in recovery, the musician has set up the Pete Doherty Hope Initiative, where the centre will sponsor certain people by giving them free treatment for their drug addiction.

For more information visit hope-rehab-center-thailand.com.