Nigella Lawson gives evidence in aides’ credit card theft case

The TV chef, Nigella Lawson said she felt “betrayed” by her aides as she attended the court yesterday to give evidence against them.

Ms Lawson’s assistants are accused of committing fraud. The two Italian sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo are accused of spending £685, 000 on luxury goods and air travel. The two sisters deny the allegations. They claim that they were allowed to spend this money, for keeping quiet about Nigella’s alleged cocaine use.

Ms Lawson denies being addicted to the class A drug, however had admitted to using it on seven different occasions. This happened with her late husband, John Diamond, when he was terminally ill. Her ex husband, Mr Saatchi, claims she had used the drug daily during their ten years of marriage.

Under the oath, Ms Lawson admitted to turning towards cannabis as a way of escaping her marriage reality. She said that since ending her marriage, she has been drug-free.

She accused Mr Saatchi of making up the claims about her alleged drug use in order to clear his name. He’s been photographed grabbing Ms Lawson by her throat outside a restaurant in Mayfair. She described her ex husband as “very controlling”.

Ms Lawson believes that Mr Saatchi is trying to destroy her reputation and that of her children. She said: “I think he likes everyone to do what he wants.” The court read out the email Mr Saatchi sent to Ms Lawson about her drug use. She described the allegations as being  “part of his plan of attack.”

The trial continues.

Justyna Majewska