Voice of London

Words: Claudia Jackson | Subbing: Tracey Popoola

Former Spice Girl, Mel B, claims she was drugged throughout her marriage, a Los Angeles court has heard as her divorce hearings continue this week.

Mel B, real name Melanie Brown, allegedly told the court that in addition to the domestic abuse she suffered, she was also drugged by her husband, TV producer Stephen Belafonte.

Belafonte’s lawyer, Phillip Cohen said: “Miss Brown now takes the position that she was drugged by Mr Belafonte throughout the course of their marriage.”

In addition to this, the star claims that after she was drugged, her estranged husband made videos of her, almost a third of which are supposedly of a sexual nature.

According to Brown’s lawyer, she tried to get out of the marriage for years, but each time Belafonte threatened her with the release of these videos.

The Leeds born star filed for divorce in March. The 42 year old cited ‘irreconcilable differences’.

Belafonte claims that Brown has struggled with cocaine and alcohol addictions for the duration of their marriage. Adding that is has been a ‘major issue’ for pair.

Since their Las Vegas wedding in 2007, Belafonte says that Brown lead an overly ‘extravagant’ lifestyle, ‘wiping out’ the fortune she made after she shot to fame in the early nineties as part of The Spice Girls.

After being granted a restraining order against Belafonte in April, citing domestic abuse. Brown, who now stars as a judge on America’s Got Talent has a long divorce trial ahead of her.

The trail is set to begin on 6 November, with over 50 videos of Brown to be submitted into evidence. Susan Wiesner, Brown’s lawyer accused Belafonte of possessing more videos than is, stating that he is refusing to hand them over, saying in court: ‘Mr Belafonte has many, many videos of Miss Brown.’.

Belafonte’s lawyers have called Brown’s allegations as “nothing more than a smear campaign”.