Mel’s husband tried to choke me during jealous outburst, claims his ex-girlfriend
A FORMER girlfriend of Mel B’s estranged husband yesterday revealed how he narrowly escaped jail after being prosecuted for trying to choke her during a jealous outburst.
Stephen Belafonte allegedly pinned Nicole Contreras, 41, against a wall and screamed abuse at her before she managed to get away and call police.
She also said he was abusive, controlling and regularly flew into jealous rages during their turbulent five years together.
Miss Contreras said she has texted Mel B – full name Brown – in support after abuse allegations emerged when the former Spice Girl filed for divorce from Belafonte.
Any testament from her could help Miss Brown’s claims and prevent him from taking part of her £48million fortune. Former model Miss Contreras said Belafonte attacked her at their home in Beverly Hills in 2003 – four years before he married the pop star.
She told the Sun on Sunday: ‘Stephen grabbed me by the arms and pushed me against the wall. His hands were digging into my arms and he was really hurting me.
‘He was inches from my face and screaming at me. I was frightened and begged him to stop.
‘But Stephen wouldn’t – he put his arm across my neck and had me in a choke hold. I was struggling to breathe. Somehow I managed to get away and call 911.’
Belafonte pleaded no contest to assault charges and faced 30 days in jail before agreeing to do community service and take angermanagement courses.
Miss Contreras’s revelations emerged following a week of sordid revelations about the marriage of Miss Brown and Belafonte.
She has taken out a restraining order against Belafonte, accusing him of beating her, forcing her to have threesomes and getting the nanny Lorraine Gilles pregnant.
Miss Brown said Belafonte set Miss Gilles up ‘as my rival’ and would ‘degrade’ her in front of the nanny, who was 20 when she was hired, by saying she was ‘much younger and better looking’.
Belafonte denies assaulting Miss Brown and Miss Gilles has denied any affair. In a statement issued via his lawyers he said he had been the victim of a ‘smear campaign’.
‘I was begging him to stop’