Mel B is ‘investigated by police’ for witness intimidation after texts to former friend who was set to testify against her in divorce battle with Stephen Belafonte
MEL B has reportedly been placed 'under investigation by police' after allegedly intimidating a witness in her divorce battle with estranged husband Stephen Belafonte.
The former Spice Girl is currently locked in a bitter dispute with Stephen after she claimed he physically abused her.
Film producer Stephen, 42, was due to call Mel's former friend Siya Sherman as a witness to testify against Mel and insist he was never abusive towards her during their 10 year marriage.
But claims Siya filed a police report on Monday which alleges Mel, 42, sent her intimidating text messages which threatened her if she dared to testify against her in court.
A law enforcement source claimed to TMZ that Siya - a rapper who has appeared on TV show Sisterhood of Hip Hop - showed police officers the messages and a felony witness intimidation case was opened.
Mel allegedly sent the texts last Saturday, with Siya then filing her report on Monday.
TMZ also claims Siya was prepared to testify threesomes Mel and Stephen reportedly shared with others during their marriage and that the singer frequently used illegal drugs.
However, sources close to the singer - known as Scary Spice in her girl band days - deny Siya was even a close friend of hers and refute any claims of witness intimidation.
The claims come just days after Mel was pictured for the first time with her Beverley Hills Cop 'boyfriend'.
The star was rumoured to have grown close to married policeman Ryan Lawrence, and have now been seen together for the first time in a snap taken by her daughter Phoenix.
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The 18-year-old uploaded the picture, taken three months ago, to Snapchat and shows Mel speaking into her phone while Ryan opened his food as the trio enjoyed lunch together.
It was claimed last month the 40-year-old had found love with Ryan, who is a crisis and hostage negotiator.
the former Spice Girl has been dating the policeman in secret for the last few months, amid her bitter divorce battle.
According to TMZ, Mel, who met the cop through mutual friends, is ‘nuts’ about him and he regularly stays at her house ‘5 or 6 nights a week’.
However Mel recently denied she was dating the policeman - who is 10 years her junior - insisting she was "happy" and "single" while filming America's Got Talent.
After watching an Air Force Academy group's performance and telling them how impressed she was with their efforts, Mel said: “And yes ... I am so happy to be single right now…”
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