Fraud trial ‘not about drugs or marriage split’

Jurors in the trial of two personal assistants to Nigella Lawson and her ex-husband Charles Saatchi, who are accused of using a company credit card to spend more than £685,000 (€820,000) on themselves, have been told the case is “not about other issues of matrimonial discord or drug taking”.

Opening the trial, prosecutor Jane Carpenter said allegations of drug abuse by the TV chef were not central to the trial of Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who each deny a count of fraud.

“This case is a case about fraud, you may be aware of matters which have been in the press concerning Mr Saatchi and specifically an incident outside a restaurant in June and allegations of drug taking by Mr Saatchi about Ms Lawson more recently.