Britney Spears charged with drink and drug driving

Pop star Britney Spears has been charged with drink and drug driving.

The 44-year-old singer was charged with driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, the district attorney's office in Ventura County, California said.

The charge comes just weeks after the chart-topper voluntarily checked herself into rehab.

Her case is due in court on 4 May but she may not have to appear in person, the Attorney’s Office said.

If the singer pleads guilty to reckless driving, she will receive 12-month probation during which she is required to complete a driving under the influence (DUI) class and pay state-mandated fines and fees.

This is because she has no prior DUI history, there was no crash or injury in her arrest, and she had a low blood alcohol level, according to the Attorney’s Office.

The singer was arrested in California on 5 March after she was seen driving "erratically".

Police said Spears "showed signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests" after being pulled over.

Spears, who police said was alone in her black BMW 430i, was arrested for "driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol" and taken to Ventura County Main Jail, north west of Los Angeles.

A representative at the time said the "unfortunate incident" was "completely inexcusable", adding it would ideally be "the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life".

They added: "Her boys are going to be spending time with her.

"Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for wellbeing."

In 2007, the Mississippi-born singer avoided a criminal hit-and-run trial by paying damages after photographers pictured Spears steering her car into another vehicle as she tried to park in a California car park, and walking away after assessing the damage to her own car.

Her arrest comes after she sold part of her rights to her back catalogue in February to music publisher Primary Wave for an unknown fee.

The purchase came after Spears' 13-year conservatorship, which had control of her career decisions and finances, ended in 2021.

Most recently, Spears released a collaboration with Elton John in 2022, and later collaborated with Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am on a track titled Mind Your Business in 2023.

Source: Press Association