Britney SpearsBritney Spears‘ estranged friend/advisor Sam Lufti has finally been served with a restraining order keeping him away from the star.

The order was created while Britney was hospitalised at the beginning of the month but Sam avoided being formally served with the legal papers until yesterday morning.

The order forbids him from contacting Britney in any way - including over the phone, over text message or email - and going within 250 yards of her, her homes or her family including her sons.

Sam is thought to have only accepted the order yesterday because it was due to expire today but a judge extended the order yesterday afternoon, making it effective until at least the next hearing on 17th March.

Sam claims to have contacted Britney while she was in hospital during the early days of the restraining order but a legal source explained: “He might have thought he was protected because he hadn’t been served at that point but if it went to court, Britney’s conservators would be able to argue that he knew the details of the order from the media coverage so would not be exempt.”

Sam is believed to be behind moves by New York-based lawyer John Eardley to take Britney’s conservator case to a federal court because of her celebrity status and his recent assertions that Britney is being held hostage in her own home by the control order.