'I adore Nigella now... I'm broken-hearted to have lost her': Charles Saatchi's emotional confession as he tells court he 'doesn't know' if she took drugs and gives HIS version of the 'throttling' incident
Instead, in the infamous incident captured on camera – which led to the couple’s divorce – he claimed he was simply ‘holding her head, by the neck, to get her to focus’.
Miss Lawson, he revealed, was unhappy in their marriage because she felt she needed to ask him for a ‘pass’ to do what she wanted.
'Heartbroken': Charles Saatchi told the jury he adores his ex-wife Nigella Lawson as he gives evidence against Italian sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who are accused of fraud
Marriage breakdown: Charles Saatchi, seen leaving Isleworth Crown Court, says he does not know if his wife took drugs
Sisters: Nigella Lawson's former assistants Elisabetta (left) and Francesca Grillo leave Isleworth Crown Court
Art collector Mr Saatchi made the painful admission in a packed courtroom hearing a fraud case – which has so far been dominated by his accusations of cocaine addiction against Miss Lawson.
But yesterday, in front of a spellbound audience – made up of jurors, 40 journalists, and large legal teams – the £100million former ad man admitted the worst of his drug accusations had been sent in a ‘nasty email’ as he tussled with grief over the end of their ten-year marriage.
It was that October email which led to a court ruling that the world should hear allegations that Miss Lawson had been taking cocaine daily for more than a decade – as well as smoking cannabis and ‘poisoning’ her daughter Cosima ‘Mimi’ Diamond, 19, with drugs.
Mr Saatchi was giving evidence at Isleworth Crown Court as Italian sisters Lisa and Francesca Grillo, former nannies and maids for the 70-year-old and Miss Lawson, are accused of stealing almost £700,000 from their bosses.
Yesterday Mr Saatchi admitted that when he first learned of the Grillos’ alleged frauds he just thought they were ‘naughty girls’ who could be forgiven and kept on as employees.
'I adore Nigella': Charles Saatchi told a jury that he wishes this year had never happened as he gave evidence at Isleworth Crown Court today
'I have no proof': Charles Saatchi told the jury he has 'never, never seen any evidence' of Nigella taking drugs'FREE TO HEARTILY ENJOY ALL THE DRUGS YOU WANT, FOREVER': THE EMAIL SAATCHI SENT TO NIGELLA
'Nigella, I was sent these by a newspaper and I can only laugh at your sorry depravity.
'Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you... were so off your heads on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked and yes I believe every word the Grillos have said, who after all only stole money.'
The email went on: 'But I'm sure it was all great fun and now everything is perfect - bravo, you have become a celebrity hostess on a global TV game show. And you got the Pass you desired, free to heartily enjoy all the drugs you want, forever. Classy.'
'Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you... were so off your heads on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked and yes I believe every word the Grillos have said, who after all only stole money.'
The email went on: 'But I'm sure it was all great fun and now everything is perfect - bravo, you have become a celebrity hostess on a global TV game show. And you got the Pass you desired, free to heartily enjoy all the drugs you want, forever. Classy.'
Speaking in a quiet voice, Mr Saatchi said: ‘I am utterly heartbroken to have lost Nigella, and I wish the last year had never happened. So if you think this process is giving me any pleasure – you’re mistaken. I hate it.
‘I adore Nigella now. I absolutely adore Nigella and I’m broken-hearted to have lost her.’
Mr Saatchi also seized the chance to give his account of the photographs taken outside Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair in June, which appeared to show him throttling Miss Lawson.
When they were published a week later he tried to dismiss the incident as a ‘playful tiff’, but then accepted a police caution for assault. Miss Lawson divorced him weeks later.
Mr Saatchi said: ‘I was not gripping, strangling or throttling her. I was holding her head by the neck to make her focus.
'I wanted her to focus on what we were speaking about.’ Probed on what they were discussing Mr Saatchi butted in: ‘Her drug use? No.’
But the jury was talked through extensive allegations originating from Mr Saatchi in which he endorsed statements by the Grillo sisters, accusing Miss Lawson of daily cocaine snorting, heavy cannabis smoking and prescription drug abuse.
Court: Charles Saatchi, 70, separated from his wife Nigella Lawson earlier this year after a ten-year marriage
'Throttling': Charles Saatchi said he 'was holding her head by the neck to make her focus' when he was seen grabbing her neck outside Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair
CHARLES SAATCHI'S VERSION OF EVENTS THE DAY HE WAS PICTURED 'THROTTLING' NIGELLA LAWSON
Charles Saatchi today denied 'throttling' his ex-wife as he sat outside a central London restaurant.
The 70-year-old told the jury he was trying to 'make her focus' on what he was saying.
He added that they were not talking about her alleged drug abuse at the time.
Referring again to the incident outside Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair, central London, Mr Saatchi said: 'I was not gripping, strangling or throttling her. I was holding her head by the neck to make her focus, can we be clear?
'Was it about her drug use? No.'
When asked by Anthony Metzer QC, defending, if he became aware of Ms Lawson's alleged drug-taking around the time of the 'Scott's Restaurant incident', he said it was indeed around that time.
Mr Metzer asked if he was 'shocked', to which Mr Saatchi said he was.
'I'm very against drugs,' he added.
The 70-year-old told the jury he was trying to 'make her focus' on what he was saying.
He added that they were not talking about her alleged drug abuse at the time.
Referring again to the incident outside Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair, central London, Mr Saatchi said: 'I was not gripping, strangling or throttling her. I was holding her head by the neck to make her focus, can we be clear?
'Was it about her drug use? No.'
When asked by Anthony Metzer QC, defending, if he became aware of Ms Lawson's alleged drug-taking around the time of the 'Scott's Restaurant incident', he said it was indeed around that time.
Mr Metzer asked if he was 'shocked', to which Mr Saatchi said he was.
'I'm very against drugs,' he added.
After the TV chef last month threatened to withdraw her evidence from the Grillos’ trial, Mr Saatchi’s lawyers sent his ex-wife a letter. It made reference to inquiries the multi-millionaire made with his daughter Phoebe, 19, and other staff members, which he said supported the drug allegations against his wife.
The letter noted: ‘Over the last ten years the defendants have witnessed persistent drug abuse by Ms Lawson and Mimi, which escalated over the last five years.
They had reason to believe Miss Lawson took cocaine on a daily basis, and was a regular user of cannabis and several prescription drugs.’
It added that Mr Saatchi had ‘no reason to disbelieve the statements’.
The art collector was also interrogated over the email he had sent his former wife, accusing her and Mimi of being ‘so off their heads’ on drugs they let the Grillos blow a fortune on designer clothes, flights, and hotels.
But he said yesterday: ‘I was just being nasty.
‘This is not a very pleasant email but I was very, very upset.’
Evidence: Charles Saatchi, 70, is seen out with Trinny Woodall last night in west London before he appeared before the court today. After questioning him about his ex-wife's alleged drug taking, the defence asked: 'You are a friend of Trinny Woodall who feels very strongly about this issue?' Saatchi rolled his eyes at this question and said: 'Yes.
DRUGS EMAIL 'WRITTEN DURING PAIN OF DIVORCE'
It was a vicious email that earlier this week ensured claims of Nigella Lawson’s cocaine addiction were broadcast round the world.
But when Charles Saatchi gave evidence and was read the bitter message line by line – revealed in full for the first time – he admitted it was ‘nasty’ and written as he struggled to deal with their divorce.
He told the court he sent the email after reading statements by the Grillos about Miss Lawson’s alleged drug use.
The email read: ‘Nigella, I was sent these by a newspaper, and I could only laugh at your sorry depravity. Of course, now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you and Mimi were so off your heads on drugs you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked. And yes, I believe every word the Grillos have said, who after all only stole money.
‘You Higella, on the other hand, poisoned your child with drugs and trashed her life.
‘But I am sure it was all good fun and now everything is perfect. Bravo, you have become a celebrity hostess on a global TV gameshow. And you got the pass you desired free to heartily enjoy all the drugs you want forever. Classy!’
But when Charles Saatchi gave evidence and was read the bitter message line by line – revealed in full for the first time – he admitted it was ‘nasty’ and written as he struggled to deal with their divorce.
He told the court he sent the email after reading statements by the Grillos about Miss Lawson’s alleged drug use.
The email read: ‘Nigella, I was sent these by a newspaper, and I could only laugh at your sorry depravity. Of course, now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you and Mimi were so off your heads on drugs you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked. And yes, I believe every word the Grillos have said, who after all only stole money.
‘You Higella, on the other hand, poisoned your child with drugs and trashed her life.
‘But I am sure it was all good fun and now everything is perfect. Bravo, you have become a celebrity hostess on a global TV gameshow. And you got the pass you desired free to heartily enjoy all the drugs you want forever. Classy!’
‘Over this whole period she was writing books very successfully and appearing on television shows very successfully.’
Revealing an apparent reason for his wife’s marital unhappiness, Mr Saatchi said: ‘In one of the very rare conversations I’ve had with Nigella since we split, I asked her whether she was happy. And she said she was happy. And I said “What was this all about?”
‘She said “I’m happy because I don’t feel I have to ask for a pass to do what I feel like doing”. ‘And I said to her “You never had to ask for a pass, you could do whatever you liked.’
He claimed he was furious the angry email had become public after Miss Lawson passed it to her lawyers, they handed it to the CPS, and it then became a public court document.
He also rubbished a claim from Francesca Grillo that by asking the sisters to pay back the money they were ‘being treated worse than Filipino slaves’.
Mr Saatchi said the suggestion was ‘nonsense’.
The defendants, both of Bayswater, west London, deny the charge against them.
It is alleged they abused their positions as PAs by using a company credit card for personal gain.
Miss Lawson is expected to give evidence in the trial next Wednesday. The case continues.
Accused: Italian sisters Elisabetta Grillo (left) and Francesca arrive at Isleworth Crown Court this morning where they are standing trial over an alleged credit card fraud
Claims: TV cook Nigella Lawson is expected to give evidence to the court next Wednesday against her former employees
HOW CREDIT CARD LIMIT ROCKETED TO £100K A MONTH - ON JUST ONE CARD
Credit cards issued to alleged fraudsters Lisa and Francesca Grillo, 41 and 35, were used so regularly that Charles Saatchi endorsed Francesca’s card having its spending limit increased to £100,000 a month.
Mr Saatchi’s accountant Rahul Gajjar said five personal assistants, including the defendants, had been given the Coutts cards to use on behalf of the family.
And while Francesca Grillo was alleged to have used it to defraud him of £34,000 in June last year alone, she legitimately spent £30,000 for the family the same month.
Mr Gajjar said: ‘Charles and Nigella didn’t generally go shopping like most people do. They would have their personal assistants shop for them.’
While the accountant said he would cast an eye over the PAs’ credit card bills, he hesitated to question them, adding that seeing one of the aides buying a ‘£50,000 diamond ring from wherever’ may not be his business.
He told Isleworth Crown Court: ‘These items were for the family and it wasn’t in my capacity to say whether this Chanel handbag was okay or not okay. It wasn’t for me to say that Nigella can’t have a £25,000 dress.’
Talking about the enormous shopping sprees funded by the household – with Miss Lawson and five personal assistants lashing out £100,000 a month on average – barrister Karina Arden, defending Francesca Grillo, asked Mr Gajjar: ‘So the level of spending, which may be suggested by the Crown to be extraordinary – certainly you and Charles knew about it?’
‘Yes,’ replied the accountant, before explaining that Mr Saatchi would not have been aware of the details.
And when the multi-millionaire was quizzed about the spending habits of his wife and the five assistants, he breezily admitted to general ignorance of any details at all.
He had no idea of how much the Grillo girls were paid – Francesca £28,000 a year and Lisa £25,000 – let alone how much they spent at the shops each month.
Mr Saatchi, who is said to be worth £100million, while his famous ex-wife has her own £20million fortune, said: ‘I don’t spend my days fussing about even very large sums of money.
‘It’s not that I’m rich. It’s just that I’d rather not look at a piece of paper with money written on it. It’s not what I do.’
Mr Saatchi’s accountant Rahul Gajjar said five personal assistants, including the defendants, had been given the Coutts cards to use on behalf of the family.
And while Francesca Grillo was alleged to have used it to defraud him of £34,000 in June last year alone, she legitimately spent £30,000 for the family the same month.
Mr Gajjar said: ‘Charles and Nigella didn’t generally go shopping like most people do. They would have their personal assistants shop for them.’
While the accountant said he would cast an eye over the PAs’ credit card bills, he hesitated to question them, adding that seeing one of the aides buying a ‘£50,000 diamond ring from wherever’ may not be his business.
He told Isleworth Crown Court: ‘These items were for the family and it wasn’t in my capacity to say whether this Chanel handbag was okay or not okay. It wasn’t for me to say that Nigella can’t have a £25,000 dress.’
Talking about the enormous shopping sprees funded by the household – with Miss Lawson and five personal assistants lashing out £100,000 a month on average – barrister Karina Arden, defending Francesca Grillo, asked Mr Gajjar: ‘So the level of spending, which may be suggested by the Crown to be extraordinary – certainly you and Charles knew about it?’
‘Yes,’ replied the accountant, before explaining that Mr Saatchi would not have been aware of the details.
And when the multi-millionaire was quizzed about the spending habits of his wife and the five assistants, he breezily admitted to general ignorance of any details at all.
He had no idea of how much the Grillo girls were paid – Francesca £28,000 a year and Lisa £25,000 – let alone how much they spent at the shops each month.
Mr Saatchi, who is said to be worth £100million, while his famous ex-wife has her own £20million fortune, said: ‘I don’t spend my days fussing about even very large sums of money.
‘It’s not that I’m rich. It’s just that I’d rather not look at a piece of paper with money written on it. It’s not what I do.’
Charles Saatchi’s accountant increased Grillos’ credit card limits to £100,000 without telling his boss
Charles Saatchi wasn't told when his personal assistants had their credit card limit increased to £100,000, a jury heard today.Finance director Rahul Gajjar, 44, said he increased the limit incrementally from £25,000 but he didn't tell the millionaire art dealer.
Italian sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo are accused of spending £685,000 on the cards over a four-year themselves.
'Slavery': Finance director Rahul Gajjar told Isleworth Crown Court yesterday that Elisabetta Grillo, 41, complained that she was being treated worse than Filipino slaves during conversations with her about credit card spending
Mr Gajjar said he increased it to £50,000 in February 2010 and then £100,000 in June 2011 as the defendant kept going over the limit and her card was frozen.
Ms Arden 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.
Ms Arden went on: 'He knew that a credit limit of £50,000 was insufficient at one point and therefore asked for it to be increased?'
'The details of the figure I don't think Charles was aware of,' Mr Gajjar said.
Questioned about why Francesca and Elisabetta, 41, were expected to buy so much for the household, Mr Gajjar said: 'Charles and Nigella didn't generally go shopping like most people do. They would have their personal assistants shop for them.'
Divorce: Nigella Lawson separated from her husband Mr Saatchi earlier this year after pictures emerged of him appearing to throttle her
Asked if Francesca 'lived and breathed' Saatchi and Lawson, Mr Gajjar agreed.
Ms Arden said the Grillo sisters were treated differently to the other personal assistants employed by the company, in that they were 'like family'.
She said: 'Francesca lived in the home. Her bedroom was actually very near to the bedroom of Charles and Nigella.'
Ms Arden suggested to Mr Gajjar that the sisters did not realise they were being accused of stealing when they were confronted by him, but rather that they were being asked what expenses had been personal such as taxi journeys they made on their own but while still carrying out their duties.
The court previously heard that the defendants were open and apologetic about their spending at first, and it was only when they were sent a letter which they were asked to sign and admit they had stolen from the couple that they refused to cooperate.
Marriage breakdown: Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson divorced earlier this year after pictures were published which appeared to show Mr Saatchi throttling his wife
'Yes and yes,' Mr Gajjar said.
'What you end up with is a number of items which you put her name by... Without her being told that what is actually being alleged is that she has done something wrong?'
'That's correct, yes,' Mr Gajjar said.
'The way you went about it, the process you used, was a bit like trying to trap her, wasn't it?' Ms Arden asked.
'I don't think that was the aim. It was always about trying to find a way out for the girls,' Mr Gajjar said.
Referring to Saatchi, he added: 'He wanted to find out what had gone on. I think he knew the extent of what had been happening in Francesca's case.
'He wanted me to get to the bottom of how much and he wanted to continue with them because he had a good relationship with them.
'There was a presumption at the time we kept things sweet because Charles Saatchi just did not want the matter to go legal.
'He did not want the girls to be in too much trouble.'
What Saatchi said in evidence
The art dealer told Isleworth Crown Court he adored his ex-wife Nigella Lawson during their marriage and was 'heartrboken' after they had separated.He also refuted claims his wife's mind was so 'addled' by drugs that she was not aware what she had or had not permitted the accused sisters to buy.
'Are you asking me whether I think that Nigella truly was off her head?' he asked.
'Not for a second. Over this whole period she was writing books very successfully and appearing on television shows very successfully.'
He added: 'I have never, never seen any evidence of Nigella taking any drug whatsoever. I want to be helpful, but I genuinely have no real knowledge at all.'
When asked about the incident where he was seen 'throttling' Miss Lawson at Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair, London, he said: 'I was not gripping, strangling or throttling her. I was holding her head by the neck to make her focus, can we be clear?
'Was it about her drug use? No.'
He added the 'slavery story' - in reference to Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo claiming they were 'being treated worse than Filipino slaves' - was 'nonsense'.
He then said: 'The truth is, there was no real need for us to keep them both on but we both liked them very much and we found work for them.'
'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.'
Mr Saatchi said of Francesca's role: 'I don't think it was exactly the most gruelling job in the world.'
He said she had 'a completely free range' and said she slept next door to him.
'As far as I was concerned she was very happy with the way we lived,' he added.
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