Heather Mills Charges That Paul McCartney Abused Her

Heather Mills claims that Paul McCartney was an abusive husband who poured wine on her head and then stabbed her with a broken glass, pushed and choked her, hurled insults at her, used illegal drugs and would often get extremely drunk.

These are some of the accusations made by the former model in leaked court documents filed as part of the former couple's divorce proceedings, according to Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.

McCartney, 64, and Mills, 38, separated in May after four years of marriage. The former Beatles bassist filed for divorce in July.

Mills had part of her left leg amputated after a 1993 traffic accident. But the documents claim that McCartney forced her to cancel leg surgery to avoid a conflict with vacation plans, and that he forced her to cook while she on crutches and drag herself to the washroom and (earlier this year) up the stairs on to an airplane when she wasn't wearing her prosthetic limb.

Mills also alleges that, while she was pregnant, McCartney told her not to breast-feed after the arrival of their baby daughter, Beatrice. He's said to have commented that "they are my breasts" and "I don't want a mouthful of breast milk."

In response to the allegations, McCartney's lawyers released a statement that the former Wings leader would wait until the divorce went to court before speaking out, but would "vigorously and appropriately" defend himself.

"Our client would very much like to respond in public and in detail to the allegations made recently against him by his wife... but he recognizes, on advice, that the only correct forum for his response is in the current divorce proceedings."

McCartney and Mills didn't sign a pre-nuptial agreement because they felt it was "unromantic," but media reports have said that she'll try to obtain at least 200 million pounds ($423 million Canadian), and perhaps an even larger chunk of his vast fortune, in the divorce.

Britain's Mirror newspaper reported that Mills has a history of "making far-fetched statements that are later contradicted by others," which could bring these charges against McCartney into question. The paper listed a number of examples of Mills stretching or avoiding the truth, making it obvious that it's supporting the revered singer/songwriter/musician in this battle. Mills' first husband, Alfie Karmal, claims to have paid for her to have therapy after she admitted to being a compulsive liar, according to the Mirror.

Perhaps to help build up his bank account in advance of making alimony payments, McCartney's MPL Communications company has applied to Britain's Trademark Registry to have his name trademarked. He's interested in launching a line of vegetarian food products bearing his name, and the trademark registration would prevent others from using it.