Nigella Lawson, the famous celebrity chef admitted to doing cocaine several times in her life, but denied being addicted to the drug while testifying at a trial, Wednesday, against her personal assistants, Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo, who have been charged of overspending at her expense, according to several news reports.
Lawson said that she had snorted coke with her late husband, John Diamond seven times to help him escape the pain of the treatment. She also admitted to doing the drug in 2010, when she was with her second husband, billionaire Charles Satchi, because he had threatened to destroy her, reports CNN. She also admitted to smoking marijuana during the final few days of her marriage to Satchi.
"I was having a very, very difficult time. I was being subjugated to intimate terrorism by Mr Saatchi," she said at the trial, according to Today News.
The confession came after a hearing last week, in which the assistants' defense attorney said that there was a mutual understanding that the two could spend any amount of money if they kept mum about her drug problems. Additionally, the court also found an email by Satchi, addressed to Lawson saying, "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 head on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked," reports Reuters.
However, Satchi later denied having seen Lawson on drugs 'ever' in the course of their marriage.
The two sisters, who worked as nannies, cleaners and assistants for Satchi and Lawson while they were married have been accused of swindling more than $1.12 million, spending on expensive flights, hotel stays, handbags and clothes.
Lawson however maintained that Elizabetta, called lisa at home, had been her 'rock' throughout difficult times when Diamond passed away and was also loved by her children. Lisa had been treated very well and given every privilege, a family member would be given. She asserted that she did not want to see Lisa behind bars but just wanted to see her admit the guilt, reports The Independent.
Although, the trial is against the home helps, the media has largely focussed on the Lawson and Satchi's stormy marriage, dragging the estranged couple in the limelight, according to The Associated Press. The couple split after 10 years of failed marriage in July 2013.
The trial on the assistants is still on. The revelation could prove to be a major turn in the lawsuit.
Read more on the lawsuit, here.
