By JESSICA BARRETT and KATIE NICHOLL
Pop singer Pete Doherty is dating a stunning young catwalk model who has been tipped by fashion experts as the next Kate Moss.
The 28-year-old drug addict, whose turbulent two-year relationship with the supermodel ended last September, has been stepping out with Portia Freeman since before Christmas.
Portia is just 19 and bears an uncanny resemblance to Kate.
With high cheekbones and subtle features, the 5ft 9in blonde is considered to be one of the most promising models on the books of Select, her London-based agency.
The romance began when the pair were introduced by Doherty's ex-girlfriend Lisa Moorish, with whom he has a five-year-old son called Astile.
At the time Portia, who grew up in affluent Weybridge in Surrey, was dating musician Stuart Le Page, the sometime guitarist for rock band The Paddingtons.
But she called off the relationship to start an affair with Doherty and has made several visits to his rented house in Wiltshire.
"Pete is seeing Portia and he really likes her," a source close to the troubled singer confirmed last night.
"They get to see each other at weekends when Pete isn't touring with his band Babyshambles. She went back to Pete's after watching him play a gig in December.
"It's early days and they are enjoying each other's company."
While Portia is believed to be besotted with the drug-ravaged pop star, the budding romance is said to have infuriated her family and friends.
Portia's father is Dr Luke Freeman, a specialist in anthropology at University College London, who lives in Weybridge with his wife Elizabeth Stone and their teenage son.
He said that he had never met the Babyshambles front-man and played down his daughter's relationship.
"You should check your contact - my daughter isn't having a relationship with Pete Doherty," he said.
But Portia, who was photographed in an embrace with the singer last month at a gig at The Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel, East London, has told friends that she is crazy about Doherty.
"Portia is probably the best thing to happen to Pete. She is a very clean-living girl and not at all into drugs," said a friend.
"He is trying to stick with his rehab programme and trying to stay clean. He is having regular counselling sessions and has been advised not to jump headfirst into any relationship. He wants to take things slowly.
"He really enjoys spending time with Portia. They love walking across the fields of the country estate where Pete rents a house."
Doherty rents a nine-bedroom mansion on the 4,500-acre Savernake Estate near Marlborough, Wiltshire, owned by the Earl of Cardigan.
Friends say he is desperate to get clean after being given a 12-month drug rehabilitation order and an 18-month supervision order - the results of a string of drug and driving offences.
Last September, a court ordered him to complete a four-week drugs rehabilitation course.
Most recently he was linked romantically with his friend of ten years, the model Irina Lazareanu. They were said to have been engaged briefly last October after she was reported to have shown off a ring backstage at a Paris Fashion Week show.
Ironically it was Kate Moss who gave Irina her big break - she modelled for Kate's Topshop range last May.
Doherty's manager Andy Boyd told The Mail on Sunday last night: "Obviously I don't know about everything Pete does.
"I'm not saying that he and Portia don't know each other - I just don't think they are in a relationship."
A spokesman for Portia declined to comment.