The Earl of Cardigan is embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over a country mansion trashed by the pop star Pete Doherty.

The aristocrat is suing a trustee of his extensive Wiltshire estate, Savernake, for failing to ensure a Georgian house was rented out after costly repairs resulting from extensive damage caused by the singer.

The Earl, David Brudenell-Bruce, is suing Wilson Cotton for thousands of pounds in lost rent on Sturmy House following repairs needed when Doherty left the £1 million property “uninhabitable”.