Britney Spears was sentenced to 12 months' probation for drunk driving.

Britney Spears was sentenced to 12 months' probation for drunk driving, the Ventura County Superior Court ruled today. The 44-year-old singer avoided prison time by pleading guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving, People reports.

Spears was also fined $571 and served one day in jail, credit for time already served during the pretrial detention. Additionally, the pop diva was ordered to complete a three-month rehabilitation program, attend weekly counseling sessions, and meet with a psychiatrist twice a month. She was also ordered to submit to searches and seizure of her vehicle if necessary, and was only allowed to possess medications with a valid prescription. Spears did not attend the hearing in person; her interests were represented by attorney Michael Goldstein.

As a reminder, in early March, Britney Spears was arrested for drunk driving after her BMW was spotted swerving on the highway. Police suspected the singer may have been under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol, and she was taken to the hospital for a medical examination. She was released three hours later.

Shortly after her arrest, Spears voluntarily checked herself into rehab. Rumor has it that her sons, who hadn't spoken to the star for many years, insisted on it (though some speculate their motives may have been selfish—the heirs allegedly sent Spears to rehab so they could move into her house). After the incident, Sean Preston and Jayden James expressed support for their mother, and the eldest son even renounced his father's surname, Kevin Federline. Federline himself immediately commented to the press on his ex-wife's arrest, noting that he was concerned about the possibility of similar situations happening again. Incidentally, there's an online speculation that his candid memoir, which was published last year, led to the singer's legal troubles.

In 2008, after a nervous breakdown, Spears found herself under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears. He had complete control over her life and finances. It was only in 2021, thanks to fans, that the star was able to free herself from the conservatorship. Afterward, she began posting strange videos on social media, and fans once again raised concerns about her mental state.

Фото: David Becker/Getty Images for dcpbritneyspears/Instagram**