Spears stays away from custody hearing

Published on Thursday 4 October 2007 01:13

BRITNEY Spears stayed away from a family court hearing over custody of her two children yesterday.

Her husband, Kevin Federline, who was given custody of their two sons this week, arrived unexpectedly at the closed-doors hearing.

On Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner Scott Gordon ruled that the 25-year-old pop singer must give custody of Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, to Mr Federline from yesterday "until further order of the court".

Flanked by bodyguards, Mr Federline, 29, arrived in a blue suit and wearing a black patch over his right eye, covered by a pair of sunglasses.

Monday's court order required Spears to hand over the children after she failed to produce a California driving licence and allegedly missed a drug and alcohol test ordered by the court, her lawyer, Sorrell Trope, was reported as saying.

California Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Mike Marando said a temporary driving licence was issued to Spears on Tuesday in Santa Monica.