Nigella Lawson has criticised the “ridiculous sideshow” of drug use allegations during the trial of her two former personal assistants.
Italian sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo were today cleared by a jury of fraud.
Police confirmed they would not investigate allegations of drug use. The court heard about an email in which Charles Saatchi suggested the assistants had been able to embark on a £685,000 spending spree on their employers’ credit cards because of his ex-wife’s drug use.
However, appearing at Isleworth Crown Court later, Mr Saatchi said in his evidence that he could not say with certainty whether his TV chef ex-wife took drugs.=
In a statement today Ms Lawson said she had tried to ensure the Crown Prosecution Service was aware of what she claimed was a “sustained background campaign deliberately designed to destroy my reputation”.
Ms Lawson said the jury had been faced with a “ridiculous sideshow'”of allegations about her drug use.
"My experience as a witness was deeply disturbing," she added.
A statement issued on her behalf said: "Despite lengthy cross-examination defence counsel failed to seek to corroborate the Grillo sisters' claims with Ms Lawson's three assistants who worked with her in her home for a combined 24 years."
Ms Lawson herself said: “While this has been a difficult and upsetting time for both me and my family I would like to thank my friends, family and all those who have expressed support throughout this ordeal."
