BRITNEY Spears has been "getting close" with her former housekeeper following her shock split from husband Sam Asghari.
The Princess of Pop, 41, is reportedly being consoled by an ex-member of her staff who allegedly has a chequered criminal past.
A source told Page Six that Paul Richard Soliz, 37, has given the singer a shoulder to cry on after model and actor Asghari filed for divorce.
The insider claimed that the pair have "formed a close bond" after "spending time" together since Britney's explosive breakup.
But the source said they were "concerned" about their closeness and claimed that Soliz had an extensive rap sheet.
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The former housekeeper is said to have first crossed paths with Britney around a year ago.
He was hired to "clean toilets, mop floors and pick up trash" at her $7.9million Thousand Oaks mega-mansion, the source said.
Insiders told Page Six that Soliz was later fired from his job, but mother of two Britney is still spending time with him.
And the pop star is "not trying to hide their new-found friendship" despite it coming on the back of her dramatic split with Asghari.
The source claimed that Soliz was hired for the role without Britney's camp conducting a background check.
According to Page Six, the vetting process would have flagged up his "extensive" criminal past which they uncovered by scouring legal records.
Court documents from April 2014 allegedly show that Soliz was convicted on one count of disturbing the peace.
He was also charged with child endangerment, but this was dismissed under a plea deal.
Page Six claimed he also found himself in hot water with law enforcement two years later.
In 2016, Soliz was convicted of driving without a license, but the charge was dismissed due to another plea agreement.
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And last December - during the time that he was working for Britney - he was reportedly convicted of felony firearm possession.
The revelations come just days after Britney was spotted spending time with a mystery man in Calabasas, Los Angeles.
The Toxic singer was behind the wheel as she took her companion to a drive-thru Starbucks to grab some beverages.
After grabbing her to-go cups and snacks, Britney paused in the car park to take a phone call while glancing at her passenger who sported a San Francisco Giants baseball cap.
He remained shaded by the car's sun visor while seemingly ducking his head as he sat beside the star in the busy parking lot.
It is not clear if Soliz was the man riding shotgun in Britney's white Mercedes-Benz.
The Mississippi-born vocalist was reportedly caught cheating by her husband Asghari with a staffer at their house, according to TMZ.
Britney "engaged in other inappropriate sexual conduct as well," the outlet wrote.
Sources with direct knowledge shared: "Sam has claimed Britney asked at least one staffer to shoot video of her naked.
"Not only that, we're told Sam believes she hooked up with at least one of the male staff members working at her home."
Sources said there's footage of Britney and the staffer together in a "compromising position."
Sam filed for divorce last week just 14 months after the couple tied the knot.
The U.S. Sun previously reported that Sam is looking to contest their prenup.
He has already requested spousal support and legal fees in his initial divorce filing, while some believe that he is hoping for a large payout in addition.
If she refuses his demands, sources close to Sam claimed that he could spill “extraordinarily embarrassing” secrets about her.
However, a source close to Britney stated: “Britney has been pushed around by men her whole life. She is not going to let it happen again.
“There has been one heartbreak after another in her life but she won’t be taken advantage of this time."
The insider concluded: "She will fight for what’s rightfully hers if it comes to that.”
This week, a source exclusively told The U.S Sun what they believe is the reason behind Britney and Sam's split.
An insider close to the couple claimed: "The truth is that Sam has been like a psychiatrist to her and has effectively been her therapist helping her after she got out of the grasp of her father."
Britney's conservatorship ended on November 12, 2021, and the pop star married Sam on June 9, 2022.
