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Nigella Lawson had powder-covered banknotes in handbag, PA claims Nigella Lawson had powder-covered banknotes in handbag, PA claims
(33 minutes later)
A former personal assistant accused of defrauding Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson has said she regularly found rolled-up bank notes with white powder on them in the TV chef's handbags.A former personal assistant accused of defrauding Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson has said she regularly found rolled-up bank notes with white powder on them in the TV chef's handbags.
Francesca Grillo, 35, also told Isleworth Crown Court that she found evidence of cannabis being smoked in the couple's house. Francesca Grillo, 35, told Isleworth Crown Court she also found evidence of cannabis being smoked in the couple's house.
Ms Lawson has denied being an addict or having a drug problem.Ms Lawson has denied being an addict or having a drug problem.
Francesca and her sister Elisabetta Grillo, 41, deny fraud.Francesca and her sister Elisabetta Grillo, 41, deny fraud.
While stating she had never seen Ms Lawson taking drugs, Francesca Grillo told the court she first saw rolled up notes in the cook's home following a party.While stating she had never seen Ms Lawson taking drugs, Francesca Grillo told the court she first saw rolled up notes in the cook's home following a party.
She said part of her duties was to transfer items between her employer's handbags and would find rolled up notes inside. She said part of her duties was to transfer items between her employer's handbags and would find rolled-up notes inside.
When questioned about how many times it had happened, she replied: "Frequently. Every time I went through her handbag there was some notes. It was very frequent."When questioned about how many times it had happened, she replied: "Frequently. Every time I went through her handbag there was some notes. It was very frequent."
Ms Grillo told the court that one of the couple's children found a hollowed-out book containing white powder which belonged to Ms Lawson.Ms Grillo told the court that one of the couple's children found a hollowed-out book containing white powder which belonged to Ms Lawson.
Francesca Grillo, and her sister Elisabetta are accused of defrauding their former employers by spending £685,000 on credit cards belonging to them. When asked if she had ever asked Ms Lawson about drugs, Ms Grillo replied: "No. I didn't think it was my place."
'Too white for makeup'
Ms Grillo also said that Ms Lawson would sometimes come downstairs with white powder on her nose and she would point it out to her, but the food writer would say it was make-up.
When questioned by the defence counsel Karina Arden if the substance could have been a cosmetic Ms Grillo said it was "too white to be make-up".
She also told the jury that Ms Lawson often had a runny nose.
The court heard that Mr Saatchi and Ms Lawson's children told Ms Grillo that the TV chef smoked cannabis with them when she could not sleep.
Earlier in the trial, Ms Lawson admitted taking cocaine a handful of times with her first husband when he was terminally ill and once during an unhappy time in her marriage to Mr Saatchi.
Ms Lawson also admitted smoking cannabis in the last year of her marriage to Mr Saatchi but denied she had a drug problem.
Francesca Grillo and her sister Elisabetta are accused of defrauding their former employers by spending £685,000 on credit cards belonging to them.
The case continues.