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| Saatchi accused Nigella Lawson of drug-taking, court hears | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Charles Saatchi accused his ex-wife Nigella Lawson and her daughter of being "so off your heads on drugs" that she allowed staff to spend "whatever they liked", a court has heard. | |
| Sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo are set to go on trial at Isleworth Crown Court in west London. | Sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo are set to go on trial at Isleworth Crown Court in west London. |
| They are accused of committing fraud while working as personal assistants to the couple. | They are accused of committing fraud while working as personal assistants to the couple. |
| Judge Robin Johnson read out an email sent from Saatchi to his former wife. | Judge Robin Johnson read out an email sent from Saatchi to his former wife. |
| "Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you (and) Mimi were so off your heads on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked and yes I believe every word they have said," the email read. | "Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you (and) Mimi were so off your heads on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked and yes I believe every word they have said," the email read. |
| It formed part of legal arguments ahead of the trial. | It formed part of legal arguments ahead of the trial. |
| TV chef Lawson is expected to give evidence during the trial of the Italians Francesca Grillo, 35, and Elisabetta Grillo, 41, which is expected to last at least two weeks. | |
| Judge Johnson said Saatchi was asked by police to explain what he meant in the message to Lawson. | |
| The judge told the court that Saatchi said: "At the time of sending the email I was completely astounded by the scale of drug use set out in the statements (from the defendants). | |
| "Nevertheless I did believe the allegations that I'm referring to in the email. I have been asked whether it referred to a belief that Nigella or the children permitted the sisters to spend whatever they liked. | |
| "I can't remember precisely what I had in mind. On reflection, I was simply speculating that the sisters would use this information to defend themselves." | |
| Defence barristers acting for the two defendants had wanted details of the alleged drug use by Lawson, who ended her 10-year marriage to Saatchi earlier this year, to be heard in the case. | |
| The judge concluded: "I will allow questions of Miss Lawson and witnesses as to the alleged taking of prescribed drugs or proscribed drugs." |