One of the personal assistants accused of defrauding Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi was “cagey” and “secretive” about where she got her designer clothes and spent most of the time at work on Facebook, a court has heard.

Charles Saatchi’s accountants did not scrutinise the credit cards used by his and Nigella Lawson’s personal assistants, because it was not their job to get involved in the household expenditure, a court has heard.

Nigella Lawson has admitted in court to using cocaine, saying in one case it was because of “intimate terrorism” she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband Charles Saatchi.

Nigella Lawson accused her ex-husband, Charles Saatchi, of threatening to “destroy” her as she gave evidence today in the trial of their former personal assistants on fraud charges.

Nigella Lawson arrived at court today as she prepares to give evidence in the trial of two of her former personal assistants.

Art dealer Charles Saatchi has told a court he was “utterly bereft” that a private email he sent to ex-wife Nigella Lawson referring to her being on drugs has been made public.

Charles Saatchi told a court today that he held the neck of his former wife Nigella Lawson last June “to make her focus”.

Charles Saatchi has told a court he was “utterly bereft” that a private email he sent to ex-wife Nigella Lawson referring to her being off her head on drugs has been made public.

Two personal assistants to Charles Saatchi and his ex-wife Nigella Lawson complained they were “being treated worse than Filipino slaves” when they were confronted over their alleged spending sprees at the couple’s expense.

Two personal assistants to Charles Saatchi and his ex-wife Nigella Lawson complained they were “being treated worse than Filipino slaves” when they were confronted over their alleged spending sprees at the couple’s expense, a court has heard.

Nigella Lawson has been branded a "habitual criminal" who created a "culture of secrecy" in her marriage by hiding her alleged drug use.

TV cook Nigella Lawson was described as a “habitual criminal” in court today.

Charles Saatchi referred to his former wife, Nigella Lawson, as “Higella” and accused her of being so off her head on drugs that she allowed their personal assistants to spend the couple’s money on whatever they liked, a court heard.