Britney Spears is said to have reconciled with ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib because she fears him releasing a secret sex tape, MailOnline has been told.
Britney, 26, and the Birmingham-raised paparazzo, 36, have barely been seen together since the troubled singer was hospitalised for psychiatric treatment on January 31.
Despite Britney's father Jamie's staunch disapproval of Adnan, the pop star is understood to have started seeing Adnan again in recent weeks, TMZ.com reported.
Adnan is said to have been recently spotted driving into the gated community in the Hollywood Hills where the singer is living with her father.
But sources claim the two haven't got back together for purely romantic reasons - Britney is apparently terrified Adnan has an explicit video of her during the couple's brief trip to Mexico in January.
'Britney's really scared that Adnan has a sex tape,' an insider tells MailOnline.
'She wants to get it out of his hands.'
The love match will be met with strong disapproval by Spears' father, who is still her legal custodian following a legal order earlier this year.
'Britney's father can't stand Adnan,' added the source.
'He thinks he's seedy, with ulterior motives.'
Indeed, MailOnline understands that Ghalib offered to sell a kiss-and-tell style interview about life with Spears a British Sunday tabloid after the pair initially split.
But the tabloid thought there were discrepancies in his interview.
Still, Ghalib does have one advocate in Spears' camp - her mother Lynne.
'She always thought his intentions were semi-honourable,' said the source.
'She knows that even if she disapproved, it's useless trying to dissuade Britney from making her own choices when it comes to men.
The photographer admitted last month he went into hiding after receiving death threats from angry Britney fans.
He told Heat magazine: 'I have had many calls about it (the sex tape) from all over the world. In light of the constant calls about the sex tape and threats, I'm taking a break from the industry and keeping a low profile.'
In April, Adnan was reportedly stabbed in the arm during an attack in Los Angeles.
He said: 'Yes I was injured by an attacker. This is still being investigated.
'I can't say much about the cowardly attack other than: a) you better come a lot stronger than that if you want to make a point and b) most will be surprised by those behind it.
The pair started dating around Christmas after Ghalib spent months photographing the star.
Britney stunned fans when she started dating Adnan last Christmas after years of complaining about paparazzi attention.
Earlier this year, actress Gwyneth Paltrow commented: 'Look at what they've done to Britney. The paparazzi and magazines have blood on their hands. They literally made her go insane.
'She's got classic Stockholm Syndrome she fell in love with a paparazzo and went insane. The photographers and the editors of these magazines have such bad karma. It's pretty dark.'
Britney, 26, and the Birmingham-raised paparazzo, 36, have barely been seen together since the troubled singer was hospitalised for psychiatric treatment on January 31.
Despite Britney's father Jamie's staunch disapproval of Adnan, the pop star is understood to have started seeing Adnan again in recent weeks, TMZ.com reported.
Adnan is said to have been recently spotted driving into the gated community in the Hollywood Hills where the singer is living with her father.
But sources claim the two haven't got back together for purely romantic reasons - Britney is apparently terrified Adnan has an explicit video of her during the couple's brief trip to Mexico in January.
'Britney's really scared that Adnan has a sex tape,' an insider tells MailOnline.
'She wants to get it out of his hands.'
The love match will be met with strong disapproval by Spears' father, who is still her legal custodian following a legal order earlier this year.
'Britney's father can't stand Adnan,' added the source.
'He thinks he's seedy, with ulterior motives.'
Indeed, MailOnline understands that Ghalib offered to sell a kiss-and-tell style interview about life with Spears a British Sunday tabloid after the pair initially split.
But the tabloid thought there were discrepancies in his interview.
Still, Ghalib does have one advocate in Spears' camp - her mother Lynne.
'She always thought his intentions were semi-honourable,' said the source.
'She knows that even if she disapproved, it's useless trying to dissuade Britney from making her own choices when it comes to men.
The photographer admitted last month he went into hiding after receiving death threats from angry Britney fans.
He told Heat magazine: 'I have had many calls about it (the sex tape) from all over the world. In light of the constant calls about the sex tape and threats, I'm taking a break from the industry and keeping a low profile.'
In April, Adnan was reportedly stabbed in the arm during an attack in Los Angeles.
He said: 'Yes I was injured by an attacker. This is still being investigated.
'I can't say much about the cowardly attack other than: a) you better come a lot stronger than that if you want to make a point and b) most will be surprised by those behind it.
The pair started dating around Christmas after Ghalib spent months photographing the star.
Britney stunned fans when she started dating Adnan last Christmas after years of complaining about paparazzi attention.
Earlier this year, actress Gwyneth Paltrow commented: 'Look at what they've done to Britney. The paparazzi and magazines have blood on their hands. They literally made her go insane.
'She's got classic Stockholm Syndrome she fell in love with a paparazzo and went insane. The photographers and the editors of these magazines have such bad karma. It's pretty dark.'
