Britney 'drugged by Svengali manager'

A restraining order against the man who has been at Britney Spears’ side during her downward spiral portrayed him as a Svengali figure who held the singer a virtual hostage in her home, drugged her, took over her finances and controlled the ravenous paparazzi “like a general”.

The order against 33-year-old Sam Lutfi was based on a lengthy declaration from Spears’ mother, Lynne, who says they met in October 2007, when he “essentially moved into Britney’s home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances”.