Nigella Lawson Accused of Using Cocaine and Other Drugs For A Decade

Nigella Lawson and ex-husband Charles Saatchi's former personal assistants are currently on trial in England for spending money on credit cards that were meant for business purposes.  The assistants are sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, and are accused of spending $480,000 (£300,000) on personal expenses such as lavish vacations, designer clothes and first-class plane tickets.

As part of the sister's defense, they are claiming that the charges on the credit card were agreed upon by Nigella Lawson in exchange for keeping her use of drugs a secret.  They claim Nigella used cocaine, cannabis, and prescription drugs daily for about a decade.

Charles Saatchi was apparently unaware of the alleged drug abuse until after they were divorced.  When he heard about the defense the assistants were using, he sent an email to Nigella calling her 'Higella' and saying:

 "Of course now the Grillo sisters will get off on the basis that you, Mimi (and another) 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."  

Mimi is her 19-year old daughter.

Obviously Nigella's lawyers are denying these claims.  The trial is ongoing and will continue tomorrow, so who knows if more will come out of this, or if the assistants have actual proof of the alleged drug use.  Stay tuned....

(Telegraph UK)
(Mirror UK)