Marriage break down

Hopefully the question I'm asking is sufficiently vague. If not, sorry mods!

A marriage breaks down a few years ago. No courts involved.

Husband d is sole earner, as wife is severely disabled. Husband has given mother X amount per month towards herself and young child.

Husband is now refusing to pay anything bar a nominal amount towards child, as retaliation to mother calling the police after a violent attack from husband. Wife can no longer afford to heat the house or buy more than the absolute basics in cheap food.

As the mother cannot work (this is medically certified by numerous specialists), are there any links or references to cases where a spousal payment was enforced, on top of child maintenance? Or links to the sort of information surrounding maintenance payments that could be relevant?
This will be going to court in May. Wife cannot afford a solicitor and is looking into flac aleady.

All hypothetical, of course.