Mel B delivers domestic violence report to 10 Downing Street as part of ‘mission’ to help victims

MEL B took her crusade to win better support for domestic violence victims to No10 yesterday – as she declared it is her new “mission”.

The Spice Girl delivered a shocking report revealing that two thirds of survivors were economically exploited – and often left penniless – by their abusers.

Mel B held talks with Theresa May's team about over getting more help for domestic abuse victims — Mel B held talks with Theresa May’s team about over getting more help for domestic abuse victims

During their ten year marriage, Mel claims she suffered extensive domestic abuse at the hands of Stephen Belafonte

She held talks with Theresa May’s team about how the Government can help women escape these financial chains which keep them locked in abusive relationships.

Mel, 43, an ambassador with the Women’s Aid charity, exclusively told The Sun how women must be given help to “break free”.

She said: “This is Women’s Aid’s mission and I am part of their mission to help make it easier for women to break free of those abusive relationships, and to understand that there is support.

“They are pushing to get laws changed and made that are going to protect and help these women when they have left.”

Mel told how she was left with just $936 in her account despite after years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte – despite being a global superstar and amassing an £80m fortune.

WOMEN MUST GET HELP TO ‘BREAK FREE’

She said she was left locked out of her fortune after she left the 10-year marriage in 2017, and reliant on her friends to help her.

She said: “I had no money to buy Christmas presents so I had help from my best friend who bought all the Christmas dinner for me and bought all the kids presents and stuff.

“I had no money left. I was appalled – I wasn’t even a signee on one of my bank accounts.”

She said that most women do not realise just how bad the abuse has got until they walk away.

She said: “I didn’t until I left and then there is the whole reality of – oh my gosh he has done this, this this and this – beyond just physical abuse.”

It comes as Women’s Aid published a report, The Economics of Abuse, laying bare the scale of the abuse.

It found that nearly half of women surveyed said they did not have enough money to pay for their food and bills while they were with their abusive partner.

And two fifths were pushed into debt as a result of the abuse.

The charity warned that many services are struggling to meet demand and in desperate need of more cash.