Nigella Lawson admits to using cocaine, but insists she’s no addict

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson testified Wednesday that she had used cocaine a number of times, but “The Taste� judge insisted that labeling her a drug addict would be “absolutely ridiculous.�

According to Court News UK, Lawson, testifying in the fraud trial of two of her former personal assistants, said she used cocaine six times while with her late husband John Diamond (who had terminal cancer) and then used the drug again in July 2010 during a difficult time in her marriage to her second husband, British businessman and art dealer Charles Saatchi.

“One time was when my husband knew his cancer was terminal, and he was introduced to it by a friend who thought it would help,’’ said Lawson. “And I did on maybe six occasions and joined in with him — it was a small amount. It gave him an escape, but I didn’t want an escape because I had to look after him and the children.�

Lawson’s drug use came up in the trial because sisters Lisa and Francesca Grillo, the two former assistants on trial, claiming the chef agreed to allow them to spend the couple’s money on shopping sprees and luxury hotels as long as they kept quiet about her drug use. Saatchi, her ex-husband, also testified that he knew of his wife’s “severe cocaine habit.�

Lawson admitted to using drugs but denied giving the assistants authorization to use the family’s personal credit cards to make extravagant purchases. The sisters, who worked for Lawson for more than 10 years, are accused of spending more than $1 million in five years.

Lawson and Saatchi made headlines this year when pictures were taken of Saatchi with his hands around Lawson’s neck.

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