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| Charles Saatchi 'has no proof' Nigella Lawson took drugs | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Charles Saatchi has told a court he has "no proof" his ex-wife Nigella Lawson ever took drugs - despite an email he sent claiming she was "off her head". | |
| He was giving evidence at the trial of the couple's assistants Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo who deny fraudulently using their employers' credit cards. | |
| The Grillos' defence has claimed that the sisters were allowed to spend by Ms Lawson to cover her use of drugs. | |
| Addressing the Grillos' defence counsel Mr Saatchi said: "I have no proof." | |
| Art dealer Mr Saatchi told defence barrister Anthony Metzer QC at Isleworth Crown Court: "I have never, never seen any evidence of Nigella taking any drug whatsoever." | |
| Earlier, Mr Saatchi told the court he was "utterly bereft" that a private email he sent to Ms Lawson referring to her being "off her head" on drugs has been made public. | |
| When asked if he believed allegations that Ms Lawson was a habitual cocaine user, the art dealer said: "I do not know." | |
| He also told the court it was Ms 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, 35 and 41-year-old 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. |
| Asked who decided the defendants should have credit cards, Mr Saatchi said: "My ex-wife, Nigella." | 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 he reimbursed the costs from his own personal account. | He said the bills were initially paid by his company, Conarco Partnership, and he 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. | "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. |
| Polo match | Polo match |
| He told the court the sisters were originally employed by Ms Lawson as nannies during her marriage to her late husband, John Diamond. | He told the court the sisters were originally employed by Ms 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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, 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. | 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. | 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. | Mr Saatchi said this was not the sort of journey he would have authorised. |
| £100,000 limit | £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. |