Paul McCartney’s divorce proceedings from Heather Mills have taken a new twist after legal papers alleging Paul physically and verbally abused Heather during the marriage, often while drunk or under the influence of “illegal drugs”.

According to the Evening Standard, Heather has claimed that Paul stabbed her with a broken wine bottle, pushed her over a coffee table and humiliated her in public. In addition, he made her cook dinner for him every night even when she was “on crutches with a broken pelvic plate” and that he “would not let her have an antique bedpan under their bed to save her crawling to the bathroom at night”. Paul is also alleged to have “forbade her from having an operation because it clashed with his holiday plans and called her an ‘ungrateful bitch’.”

Heather’s legal team from law firm Mishcon de Reya have refused to comment on the “leaked or allegedly leaked documents” but that it “can confirm that Lady Heather Mills McCartney stands by everything that has been filed at Court on her behalf and intends to prove its truth in due course.”

Paul’s legal representatives have issued a counter-statement insisting that Paul is planning to contest the allegations but not in the press: “Our client would very much like to respond in public and in detail to the allegations made recently against him by his wife and published in the press but he recognizes, on advice, that the only correct forum for his response to the allegations made against him is in the current divorce proceedings.”

“Our client will be defending these allegations vigorously and appropriately.”

“Our client is saddened by the breakdown of his marriage and requests that his family is allowed to conduct their personal affairs out of the media spotlight for the sake of everybody involved.”