Lindsay Lohan's friends fear for sobriety over theft case

Lindsay Lohan's friends fear she may not "survive" if she goes back to jail.

The troubled star, who completed a court-ordered 90-day rehab stint last month, was warned in court yesterday she will be sent to prison if she accepts a plea bargain in relation to a felony grand theft charge and pals are concerned she will start taking drugs again over the stress of the case.

A source told website PopEater: "I'm not sure if she can survive this. She is so terrified and frightened that we all fear her addictions will kick in again to help her numb the fear."

The 'Mean Girls' star - whose rehab stint was part of a punishment for breaching the terms of probation that were set following a 2007 driving under the influence conviction - is accused of stealing a necklace worth $2,500 from upmarket Californian boutique Kamofie & Company.

Though Lindsay has repeatedly denied the allegation, insisting the item was loaned to her in exchange for publicity, she has been offered a plea bargain deal, in which she is believed to be expected to serve just eight months in jail in exchange for pleading guilty.

The 24-year-old actress must decide whether to accept the deal or plead not guilty and take the case to trial by the time of her next hearing, which has been set for March 10.

Lindsay, who is free on $40,000 bail, was also warned by Judge Schwartz if she pleads guilty or no contest to the charge then he could rule that she is in violation of her earlier DUI order.

Lindsay's parents Dina and Michael, who also have children Michael Jr, 23, Ali,17, and 14-year-old Cody - supported their daughter at her hearing yesterday, despite a restraining order in place banning the showbiz patriarch from going near his ex-wife.

Michael told RadarOnline.com: "We just want to be there for her, but to be there with Dina and the kids, to show our support as a family.

"The restraining order is in effect, it's been seven years and in effect for five more months, but it doesn't matter.

"At a time like this when the public needs to see and the court needs to see her family come together for her. Because that's one of her biggest problems, she has a broken heart and she filled that crack in her broken heart that came from our divorce with all the wrong things.

"Parents have to put their differences aside for their children."