Restraining order accuses man of taking over Britney Spears’ life

By Linda Deutsch

LOS ANGELES – A restraining order against Britney Spears’ friend and manager Sam Lutfi alleges that he drugged her, took over her life and finances and for months controlled the ravenous pack of paparazzi.

The order, based on a lengthy declaration from Spears’ mother, Lynne, says that Spears met Lutfi in October 2007 and “Mr. Lutfi has essentially moved into Britney’s home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances.”

The documents released by the court Tuesday ordered Lutfi to stay away from Spears. In a section of the order detailing previous harassment, Lynne Spears said “Mr. Lutfi drugged Britney, he has cut Britney’s home phone lines and removed her cell phone chargers. He yells at her. He claims to control everything – Britney’s business manager, her attorneys and the security guards at the gate.”

Much of the 6-page declaration centers on the night of Jan. 28. She outlined increasingly bizarre behavior through the night and said her daughter asked at one point, “When do I get to see my babies?” to which Lutfi answered, “Wednesday.”

Lynne Spears said she, her husband and a friend went to Britney’s home, but security guards kept everyone but her out. Once inside, Lynne Spears said she found several paparazzi.

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She said there had been “a big fight” with Lutfi and her daughter was crying.

“The paparazzi reported to Sam and addressed him with great respect. They treated him like a general.”

She said during the evening, “Sam had told Britney she was an unfit mother, a piece of trash and a whore, that she cares more about Adnan, her current boyfriend, than she cares about her kids and that she does not deserve her kids.”

It was unclear how Lynne Spears knew details of the fight.

Lynne Spears said Britney was not home when she first arrived and she understood Lutfi had disabled all of her daughter’s cars to keep her from leaving. She said he ordered one of the photographers to take her away when he found out her parents were on their way to intervene.

Eventually, she said, “Britney returned and became very agitated and could not stop moving. She cleaned the house. She changed her clothes many times. She also changed her three dogs’ clothes many times. Britney spoke to me in a tone and a level of understanding of a very young girl. Britney then picked up a bottle of pills and read the label and asked us, ‘What does insomnia mean?