Drug-addict UK rocker turns to Islam in jail

Drug-addicted British rocker Pete Doherty is a changed man since he began reading the Quran while in jail, his friends were quoted as saying in British newspapers on Sunday.

Doherty, the lead singer of the hugely successful Babyshambles group, is being held in isolation at London's notoriously tough Wormwood Scrubs prison, after being sentenced to 14-weeks in jail for violating his probation by taking drugs.

Friends of the British pop star said he asked for an English copy of the Quran and has been reading it ever since, British tabloid The Sun reported.

“He’s got a lot of Muslim friends and they’ve been [on] him for ages to study it. Now he’s on his own he’s got time on his hands to study it," The Sun quoted a friend as saying.

Friends say the troubled rocker – who The Sun earlier this year described as a "bleeding, bloated, greasy, drug-addled junkie" – has now found solace in Islam's holy book.

“I’m surprised how much it has calmed him down as he was very on edge inside. He definitely seems more chilled. He’s lapping it up and really interested in it. I think it’s helping him in there," the unnamed pal said.

Doherty was caught taking heroin in jail and was segregated to protect him after drug-dealing inmates threatened to harm him, the tabloid said.

In the past, Doherty was obsessed with Scientology after being introduced to the cult-like religion by his then girlfriend.

Earlier this year, drug-addicted Doherty was voted 'Hero of the Year' by readers of pop music magazine NME.

Another recent poll named him the UK's second most popular male hero, behind Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard. The same poll named fellow drug-addict singer Amy Winehouse 'Ultimate Heroine' of the year.