Judge orders three men to stay away from Spears

A judge has ordered three men with former ties to Britney Spears to continue staying away from the pop star amid claims they tried to undermine her father's control over her affairs.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K Bobb extended a restraining order against Sam Lutfi, the star's former self-styled manager, and Adnan Ghalib, a former boyfriend, until March 18.

The judge also extended a restraining order against attorney Jon Eardley, who once claimed to represent Spears, until April 1.

At the same hearing, Itamar Gelbman, a former member of Spears' security team, testified that Lutfi sent text messages to the singer's hairstylist in December asking her to relay information to the pop star.

Attorneys for Jamie Spears, the 27-year-old singer's father, have accused Lutfi, Ghalib and Eardley of trying to disrupt the legal conservatorship that gives him control over her personal affairs and replace her court-appointed lawyer.

The restraining orders against the three men require them to keep away from Spears and her family, and from helping others file legal proceedings on her behalf.

Bobb is expected to decide at hearings on March 18 and April 1 whether to further extend the restraining orders.

On Tuesday, Ghalib was charged with one felony count each of assault with a deadly weapon, battery and hit-and-run for allegedly using his car to ram a man attempting to serve the restraining order against him on February 11.

Ghalib, a 36-year-old celebrity photographer, has pleaded not guilty.

Jamie Spears was granted temporary control over his daughter's affairs in February 2008, after the singer displayed bizarre public behaviour for more than a year and was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation.

- Reuters