There are claims that celebrity chef Nigella Lawson used cocaine and marijuana "daily" for more than a decade. The allegations were made by two former kitchen assistants, Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo during a pre-trial hearing in London on Tuesday, Nov. 26, E! News reports.
The sisters have been charged with defrauding Lawson and her ex-husband, Charles Saatchi, out of more than $484,600 (300,000 pounds) while they worked for them. The Grillo sisters claim that the 53-year-old cook gave them permission to use Saatchi's company credit card if they kept her alleged drug use a secret.
"In a nutshell, we submit that she had a guilty secret from her husband, her then husband," Anthony Metzer, a lawyer for Elisabetta Grillo, told Isleworth Crown Court, per The Telegraph. "She did not want him to know of her use of cocaine and that is highly relevant to the defense case."
The court documents also claim that Lawson allegedly did drugs with her daughter and the problem got so bad that her ex-husband gave her the nickname "Higella," Fox News reports. During the pre-trial hearing the incident where Saatchi was photographed with his hands around the chef's neck was also brought up.
In June, the couple was spotted enjoying lunch at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, London but got into a heated argument. Pictures were published in local newspapers of Saatchi with hands on Lawson's neck. "The Taste" cohost was also photographed leaving the restaurant crying and visibly shaken. Saatchi was given a warning and the pair ended their 10-year marriage shortly after.
"It is our submission the row that happened, resulting in Mr. Saatchi assaulting Nigella, may well have had something to do with Nigella taking drugs and may well have had something to do with the issue before this court [of whether Lawson had given the Grillos permission to use the credit cards," Metzer told the court.
Lawson has not commented on the allegations.
