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| Charles Saatchi: PAs' credit cards were Nigella's idea | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Charles Saatchi has told a court it was his ex-wife Nigella Lawson's idea to let their personal assistants have company credit cards. | Charles Saatchi has told a court it was his ex-wife Nigella Lawson's idea to let their personal assistants have company credit cards. |
| The millionaire art dealer, who got divorced from the TV cook this year, said he was "very fond" of sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo. | The millionaire art dealer, who got divorced from the TV cook this year, said he was "very fond" of sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo. |
| They are accused of using credit cards loaned to them by the couple to spend more than £685,000 on themselves. | They are accused of using credit cards loaned to them by the couple to spend more than £685,000 on themselves. |
| At Isleworth Crown Court the Italian sisters have denied fraud charges. | At Isleworth Crown Court the Italian sisters have denied fraud charges. |
| Asked who decided the defendants should have credit cards, Mr Saatchi said: "My ex-wife, Nigella." | |
| He said the bills were initially paid by his company, Conarco Partnership, and reimbursed the costs from his own personal account. | |
| "I'm pretty certain the company pays off everything and bills me and I pay back the company for anything that's personal," he said. | |
| He told the court the sisters were originally employed by Miss Lawson as nannies during her marriage to her late husband, John Diamond. | |
| They later looked after his daughter Phoebe, now 19, when she was a child but Mr Saatchi said their role changed as the children got older. | |
| Polo match | |
| "The children adored them and Nigella was very fond of them and I was very fond of them and we didn't want them to go so they stayed on as housekeepers and general assistants," he said. | |
| Mr Saatchi, who was repeatedly asked to raise his voice for everyone in the packed courtroom to hear, said the sisters' duties included "housekeeping, shopping, doing the laundry, organising everyone in the household". | |
| Mr Saatchi told the court he recalled a "peculiar" instance when a taxi company called about a booking from London to Berkshire. | |
| He said he spoke to one of the sisters, who said she was in Berkshire at a polo match - though she said the taxi had only taken her to London Liverpool Street train station. | |
| Mr Saatchi said this was not the sort of journey he would have authorised. | |
| £100,000 limit | |
| Earlier, Mr Saatchi's accountant told the court he increased the credit limit of one of the sisters to £100,000 without telling his employer. | Earlier, Mr Saatchi's accountant told the court he increased the credit limit of one of the sisters to £100,000 without telling his employer. |
| Prosecutors claim Francesca, 35, and Elisabetta Grillo, 41, lived the "high life" buying designer products. | Prosecutors claim Francesca, 35, and Elisabetta Grillo, 41, lived the "high life" buying designer products. |
| The court previously heard that Francesca, of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, spent £64,000 on luxury holidays and designer goods in June last year. | The court previously heard that Francesca, of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, spent £64,000 on luxury holidays and designer goods in June last year. |
| Mr Saatchi's finance director, Rahul Gajjar, told the court he authorised the defendant's credit limit, which started at £25,000 before increasing it to £50,000 in 2010 and then £100,000 in June 2011 after the defendant kept going over the limit. | Mr Saatchi's finance director, Rahul Gajjar, told the court he authorised the defendant's credit limit, which started at £25,000 before increasing it to £50,000 in 2010 and then £100,000 in June 2011 after the defendant kept going over the limit. |
| During cross-examination, Karina Arden who is representing Francesca, asked: "So the level of spending, which may be suggested by the Crown to be extraordinary - certainly you and Charles knew about it?" | During cross-examination, Karina Arden who is representing Francesca, asked: "So the level of spending, which may be suggested by the Crown to be extraordinary - certainly you and Charles knew about it?" |
| "Yes," Mr Gajjar replied. | "Yes," Mr Gajjar replied. |
| Ms Arden continued: "He knew that a credit limit of £50,000 was insufficient at one point and therefore asked for it to be increased?" | Ms Arden continued: "He knew that a credit limit of £50,000 was insufficient at one point and therefore asked for it to be increased?" |
| Mr Gajjar replied: "The details of the figure I don't think Charles was aware of." | Mr Gajjar replied: "The details of the figure I don't think Charles was aware of." |
| Ms Arden said Francesca worked long hours, sometimes from 05:00 until late at night and Mr Gajjar agreed they "lived and breathed" Mr Saatchi and Ms Lawson. | Ms Arden said Francesca worked long hours, sometimes from 05:00 until late at night and Mr Gajjar agreed they "lived and breathed" Mr Saatchi and Ms Lawson. |
| Previously, Mr Gajjar, who has been the finance director of Saatchi Gallery Group since June 2002, told the court other assistants employed by Mr Saatchi spent a maximum of £8,000. | Previously, Mr Gajjar, who has been the finance director of Saatchi Gallery Group since June 2002, told the court other assistants employed by Mr Saatchi spent a maximum of £8,000. |