Mel B 'spent thousands in legal fees' in bid to get nanny libel case thrown out

Mel B spends thousands to silence former nanny who caused split from Stephen Belafonte. Photo / AP

Former Spice Girl Mel B has reportedly "spent thousands of pounds" on legal fees in a bid to gag her former nanny.

The America's Got Talent host is said to have taken out five motions hoping to persuade a judge to dismiss the libel case against her, filed by Lorraine Gilles, according to the Mirror.

Mel, 42, made the claims that 25-year-old Lorraine was one of the main reasons her marriage to film producer Stephen Belafonte broke down, according to the Daily Mail.

Mel B and nanny Lorraine Gilles enjoy a day out on a yacht in 2016 in Ibiza, Spain. Photo / Getty Images

She alleged that the pretty blonde from Germany had an affair with Stephen and terminated a pregnancy after their secret trysts. The nanny heavily denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit against Mel for libel.

Meanwhile the star is thought to want to return to Britain full-time once the legal drama has been put to bed to spend time with her family in Leeds.

The America's Got Talent judge filed for divorce from Belafonte, the father of her youngest child, in March after 10 years of marriage.

She successfully obtained a restraining order against him after alleging abuse.
The spousal support hearing is slated for the end of this month.

It is reported that the furore around the divorce has cost Belafonte half a million dollars in contracts. He is said to be seeking $266,000 for his divorce lawyers.

Mel B and Belafonte at last year's Maxim Hot 100 party. Photo / Getty Images

The Wannabe hitmaker is said to be battling debts having spent the $66m fortune she accumulated during her time in the Spice Girls.

While he was granted access to Madison, Stephen lost his battle to regain contact with Mel's daughter Angel, who was born three months before the pair's wedding in 2007.

Following the hearing in late April, Mel's lawyer Larry Bakman immediately opposed giving Belafonte visitation rights, as he branded him a 'convicted domestic violence offender' with an "extensive criminal history".

He went on to claim that Stephen had been "involved in adult pornography" and the "importation of women from other countries" to work in the industry as well as "possible money laundering".

Mel filed for divorce on March 20 and said in court papers that she was the victim of "multiple physical beatings" at the hands of her husband.

She also claimed he threatened to 'destroy' her career by releasing sex tapes of her.

Lawyers for Stephen have branded the allegations "outrageous and unfounded", and "nothing more than a smear campaign".