Mel B has reportedly been forced to pay her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte more than half a million pounds

The total comes to £401,760 and Mel must also bay Stephen's £150,000 legal bill - due five days before Christmas.

A source said: "After all the abuse Mel claims she suffered at Stephen's hands it is a bitter pill she is swallowing right now. Handing over money to the man she alleges drove her to try to take her own life is quite incredible."

In return, Stephen has agreed to destroy any compromising video footage of the 'America's Got Talent' judge, who previously claimed he and their former nanny Lorraine Gilles had tried to extort her with sex tapes.

Mel filed for divorce in March this year amid allegations he had been physically and emotionally abusive towards her, claims he vehemently denies.

Following months of bitter disputes, they have agreed to share custody of their six-year-old daughter Madison - though a judge has yet to sign it off.

The former couple will sell their marital home and divide the profits, but first Stephen will be allowed back into the abode to retrieve his personal possessions, including childhood photos, clothing and artwork.

The agreement was reached around the same time Mel withdrew her domestic violence order against the 42-year-old producer.

The 'Wannabe' singer - who also has daughters Phoenix, 18, and Angel, 10, from past relationships - previously claimed she had been "drugged" throughout her 10-year marriage to Stephen.

Philip Cohen, one of Stephen's lawyers, said: "Miss Brown now takes the position she was drugged by Mr. Belafonte throughout the course of the marriage."

The financial blow comes after Mel revealed she has had the tattoo she had dedicated to her ex surgically removed.

The 42-year-old singer had the words "Stephen, till death do us part you own my heart" etched across her ribcage as a tribute to their 10-year marriage but, rather than go through the lengthy process of having the inking lazered off following their split earlier this year, she decided to slice off his name via a painful operation - leaving her with 13 red stitches - but has left the rest of the wording.

Speaking to the MailOnline, she said: "I wanted the tattoo removed to help close the final chapter on a toxic relationship. Even though I've taken the steps to remove Stephen's name from my body, the domestic abuse will forever remain with me."