'I FEARED FOR BRITNEY'S MENTAL HEALTH'

BODYGUARD Tony Barretto was worried about Britney Spears mental health from the moment he started working for her-but he feared he would not be believed if he alerted child protection officers.

Tony, who gave a declaration to court during Britney's recent custody hearing with Kevin Federline, told the News of the World: "I've been concerned about her erratic behaviour from day one.

"I couldn't stand by and let the kids stay around her any longer.

"She has mental problems, and they are not helped by her taking drugs and alcohol.

"Her children need attention, and Britney doesn't appear to be willing to give them that at the moment.

"She can't cope with being a mother, as she has such a low boredom threshold.

"With her drug and booze issues, her home is no place for children to be raised.

"I gave a declaration to the court as I felt someone had to do something for the sake of the children.

"I am a dad and what I saw shocked me so much that it has forced me to take this measure.

"At one stage I was going to speak to child protection services, but I was worried they wouldn't take my case as I was questioning a multi-millionairess.

"So when the custody case came to court, I contacted the judge to assist in the case.

"I don't support either party-but I do want the judge to make the right decision.

"Britney needs to take hold of her life again and realise that her children are much more important than partying and dangerous pastimes.

"I hope this will be wake up call to her-I like Britney and I want her to be a success and good mum."

Overdose

Describing the night of Britney's terrifying overdose at the Mondrian Hotel, Tony added: "We were desperately concerned about her mental and physical welfare. She was acting very nervously and biting her acrylic nails down to the base.

"She was deeply upset and appeared distraught, with tears in her eyes. I've never seen her so bad.

"While all this was going on she could only say: 'I don't feel good' .

"All sorts of people went in there to see her, and somehow that night she managed to get on stage. But she was not herself, her eyes were still huge and she was out of it.

"The next day me and the other guard talked about her overdose , he replied: 'Yeah thank God-we made it.' We never spoke about it again. ''

Alcohol

Describing Britney's alcohol abuse, Tony continued: "Whenever she drinks, she turns into a party animal.

"Once she made me take a Jack and Coke to her as she sat in her white Mercedes - and then she sped off with it. In the US, that's illegal.

"In the end, whenever she'd ask us to fix her a drink, we'd trick her by filling the cups with coke and adding a dash of bourbon on top to make it seem stronger than it actually was.

"All of a sudden, we weren't bodyguards anymore. We'd turned into babysitters!

"We had to cut back on her booze because it was easier for us.

"Once at the club, the Borat comedian Sacha Baron Cohen was there. His party was actually seated in the nearby booth, and wanted to meet Britney. But just snubbed him. She wasn't interested, all she cared about was dancing and partying with her friend.

"It was so embarrassing because they were seated so close to us."

K Fed

Tony says K-Fed never visited Britney during his time alongside her.

Tony said: "They would just have massive rows on the phone all the time.

"She would scream at him, and it would deeply distress her.

"I saw her through her mobile out of her car during one of their shouting matches.

"I never saw mum and dad together with their kids."