Britney Spears in hiding; fears she'll be forced into psychiatric care

Troubled Britney Spears was last night in hiding following the latest installment of her mad, mad world.

The disturbed mum-of-two fled California fearing her family were about to take drastic action to force her into emergency psychiatric care. And she did it in a way that only Britney could.

In a bid to hoax the media and her family, word was put out that the pop superstar was flying to New York - as well as Hawaii, Las Vegas, Barbados and Mexico.

The ongoing scams eventually involved at least two private jets, several teams of security, numerous limos - and even police.

But the amazing lengths she went through were not a sign of her desperation for peace or the star - at her lowest ever having been banned from contacting her sons - was finally seeking help.

Instead, Britney was traveling with her paparazzi boyfriend - and his paparazzi pals.

The star was known to be with Adnan Ghalib - the Birmingham-born photographer she fell for while he hounded her on the streets of L.A. - as well as at least one of his colleagues.

"This is all about them playing games with her fans to get exclusive pictures," one insider said. "She has lost contact with her two sons and her family is so scared for her mental health they fear she's a suicide risk and she's out flying or driving around the world playing games.

"It' just beyond belief."

Late yesterday video of Britney and Adnan hit the internet and appeared to show the duo in Mexico.

But after a 24-hour stint of incredibly elaborate hoaxes, bluffs and double bluffs, nothing could be taken at face value.

And given the games she had been playing, who knew if she was ready to stay in one place - or to keep flying around.

Britney and Adnan were said to have been seen at L.A.'s Van Nuys Airport getting a private jet at 4pm on Wednesday.

The jet she was said to be on was booked to travel to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, the main private airport serving Manhattan.

There, security built up, with staff taking down number plates of photographers in the area and calling in police for back up. "We know why you're here," officers laughed, seemingly under the impression themselves that the superstar was landing any minute.

Then, at the time the flight was expected, two large SUV were seen racing away from the airport - including one known to be used regularly by Britney while she is in New York.

"Everything added up - it had to be her," one photographer said.

It would normally be more than enough proof to believe the star was in the Big apple - had not the exact same scene been playing out in Hawaii.

Numerous people close to Britney's camp started insisting the star was actually heading to Maui, not Manhattan.

And there, too, security were running in circles trying to block photographers, even sending in fuel trucks to block the view - then finally allowing a blacked-out SUV to speed through a back entrance.

"We definitely assumed it had to be Britney," one photographer said. "They were taking extreme measures to block us and let this car go away - and everyone knew we were there for Britney.
"It's just so bizarre."

Then, the grainy video in Mexico seemed to finally answer all the questions. But after the hoaxes, could this be one too? Was this video taken earlier - or even somewhere else? And just who is involved in helping her hide her tracks?

Adnan's colleagues seemed pleased with the game. One of his pap colleagues laughed as he bragged: "All I'll tell you is that you'll never find us."