SHOCKING BRITNEY NEWS - More Drugs and Alcohol, This Time Around Her Kids

Britney's former bodyguard Tony Baretto finally told his story to News of the World, and to use a common (if not very elegant) phrase, the s**t really hit the fans this time. We now bring you the second part of his story (if you haven't had a chance to read the first part - which tells the story of how Britney almost died after overdosing one night - you can READ IT HERE) and be warned, it's not pretty. It talks of more drug and alcohol abuse - and even worse, about how it often used to happen right in front of Britney's two children.

Baretto was employed by Spears for three months, from March (just days after she checked out of rehab) until May, when he was reportedly fired because he failed to hear Britney telling him to pick up her hat. His story - which he already told before a judge as a deposition in the Spears - Federline custody battle - talks about how Britney frequently abused drugs and alcohol both when she was out partying and while at home.

"I saw her snort white powder on two nights out at Teddy's nightclub in LA" Baretto is quoted as saying. "The first time, she was in a private booth. She was sat with another girl. The second time she had asked me to walk her to the rest room. After she'd been inside for about half an hour I poked my head round the door. There she was with a straw up her nose. After rehab she didn't want people to see her boozing. So in clubs she'd have Jack Daniel's and coke in polystyrene cups so it would look like coffee".

But the real shock comes when Tony openly states that Britney's substance and alcohol abuse didn't stop when she was at home - and when she was near her children. "There were times when Britney appeared to be under the influence near them. It was frightening", he says. "She has a whiskey stash in her pantry-and even if the children are close by, that doesn't stop her drinking. I noticed that when she was under the influence of drugs at home, she behaved the same way as she'd done on drugs at the club".

Baretto claims that what made him speak up was not fame or money. In fact, he was reluctant to step forward and testify in court - and it was Britney's behavior around her kids that made him change his mind. "I was worried about the children due to her erratic behavior. She wouldn't talk to them at all and she would be in her own world".

"She would be nervously chewing her fingernails and babbling away. We'd have to look after the kids while she went through her strange behavior. I know enough about drugs to know she was not being the normal Britney".

Tony never claimed that Britney didn't love her boys - on the contrary. "Britney does love her kids" he states, "but she is a fickle mum. When the kids are happy, she's happy. When they're crying or unwell, she's not sure what to do. She speaks to them in weird, creepy, baby voices, in made-up languages, which they just don't get. All it does is unsettle, upset and scare them. Often she would scream and cry uncontrollably. Imagine what that is like for young children".

Baretto also states that he never saw Britney feed the boys. "When they are unwell, her answer is: 'Give the baby a bottle of medicine.' I've never seen her deal with them like a full, attentive mum". What is more, Baretto claims that Britney used to drive on the wrong side of the road while her kids were in the car with her. "We followed her" - Baretto states - "but she was driving like a lunatic on the wrong side of the road. It was terrifying".

I must confess that Baretto's statements completely changed my optics on the situation. Britney, it seems, needs serious help, which probably means a psychiatric evaluation, another stint in rehab and some serious counseling. What I can't understand is how the judge still allowed her to keep the children after hearing all this. As I see it, there are two possibilities: either he felt Baretto's statements were not 100% accurate or he felt Britney deserved a second chance and that is why he ordered the twice-a-week drug tests performed on her. And while, technically, Baretto can be seen as a former disgruntled employee, I tend to believe that if he had been simply after the money and the 15 minutes of fame, he would have stepped forward a long time ago. The fact is, it is really a question of stopping the madness before something really bad happens to either Brit herself or the boys. Stay tuned for more updates - and hopefully, we're on for better news than this. If only...