Mel B's estranged husband Stephen Belafonte accuses her of 'cocaine and alcohol addiction'

Mel B’s bitter divorce from Stephen Belafonte looks set to get worse before it gets any better, with the former Spice Girl’s estranged husband accusing her of having a “cocaine and alcohol addiction” in scathing court documents.

Earlier this year, Mel was granted a restraining order from Stephen after she accused him of sexually, physically and emotionally abusing her throughout their 10-year marriage.

However, Stephen has hit back by claiming that Mel’s secret addiction battle is the real reason for their marriage breakdown, with the declaration being filed at Los Angeles Superior Court alongside copies of dozens of text messages between Stephen, Mel, and Beverly Hills marriage therapist Dr. Charles Sophy.

According to The Sun, Stephen writes in the court document: “The biggest reason for my concern with respect to the safety of the children was due to the Petitioner’s [Mel B’s] habitual and consistent addiction to and abuse of cocaine and alcohol…

“I did not want Petitioner using drugs and drinking around the children especially without anyone else present to care for the children.”

The document also claims that Mel was taking Antabuse, a drug that helps alcoholics combat their addiction, in order to care for her children, six-year-old Madison, 10-year-old Angel, and Phoenix, 18.

As well as the shock addiction allegations, Stephen also writes in the papers that he wants shared custody of Mel’s daughter with actor Eddie Murphy, Angel, as well as his daughter, Madison.

He explains: “I am the step-parent to Angel and I have been the only father that Angel has ever truly known since her infancy.

“I did not want either Madison or Angel hurt or damaged by this divorce. The most important thing to me was to protect the well-being of our children.

“Petitioner and I agreed and prepared our children and told them together that nothing was going to change after this divorce and that the only main difference is that we would just have two separate homes…

“Throughout our marriage and even post-separation, Angel had no idea that I was not her biological father.

“The children cried and I assured them that Petitioner and I both love them and would see them all the time and I would never leave them.”

As it stands, Stephen is currently having supervised contact with his daughter, Madison, with no access to Angel or teen Phoenix.

Mel and Stephen split in December after 10 years of marriage, with the separation only made public in March when Mel officially filed for divorce.

As well as Mel and Stephen’s incredibly public legal battle, Mel is also at the centre of a legal storm with her children’s former nanny, Lorraine Gilles, who Mel accused of having a secret affair with Stephen.

Lorraine denied all of Mel’s claims and is suing her over the allegations.

Yahoo Celeb UK have contacted Mel’s reps for comment.

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Read more:

[ Mel B to give Stephen Belafonte a private island if he agrees to gagging order ]

[ Mel B splits from husband Stephen Belafonte ]

[ Mel B granted a restraining order from Stephen Belafonte amid abuse claims ]