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Britney Spears has been accused of once being a heavy drug user by the lawyer representing her former manager.

Osama "Sam" Lutfi is suing Britney Spears for breach of contract.

His attorney, Joseph Schleimer, told the court that Spears used his client as a "scapegoat" to cover up her use of amphetamines.

The accusations refer to the years that Lutfi was Spears' manager, before he was let go from her team in 2008.

Lufti is suing the star's mother, Lynne Spears for defaming him in her book Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World.

He is also suing Jamie Spears, the singer's father, for punching him.

'Concerned friend'

Lutfi is seeking a share of Britney Spears' fortune saying he had an agreement to act as her manager in exchange for 15% of her earnings.

During the opening statement of the libel lawsuit trial, Schleimer also claimed that Spears was using drugs on the night that she was strapped to a stretcher and placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold.

He described Lutfi as a "concerned friend" who was trying to get the popstar off drugs before the psychiatric episode in 2008.

Her father then became conservator of Spears' estate and a restraining order was issued against Lutfi.

Sniffer dogs

During his time as her manager, Lutfi used dogs to search the star's home.

He claims the sniffer dogs found a substance that Spears told him was probably crystal meth.

Jamie and Lynne Spears say that Lutfi cut their daughter's phone line, hid her mobile phones and used the paparazzi as "henchmen".

The trial resumes on Friday afternoon in Los Angeles, when attorneys for Spears' parents will make their opening statements.