Nigella Lawson’s personal assistants acquitted

Nigella Lawson’s personal assistants, Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, have been cleared of fraud.

The TV cook said she “disappointed but unsurprised” by the court decision.

The trial of Francesca Grillo, 35, and sister Elisabetta, 41, heard they spent £685,000 ($1.1 million) on credit cards owned by Nigella Lawson and ex-husband Charles Saatchi.

They claimed Nigella Lawson allowed their spending to cover up her cocaine use.

Nigella Lawson, 53, said her experience as a witness was “deeply disturbing” and she had been “maliciously vilified”.

Following the verdict, Nigella Lawson said: “Over the three-week trial the jury was faced with a ridiculous sideshow of false allegations about drug use which made focus on the actual criminal trial impossible.

“When false claims about habitual drug use were introduced I did everything possible to ensure the CPS was aware of the sustained background campaign deliberately designed to destroy my reputation.”

Nigella Lawson added: “Even more harrowing was seeing my children subjected to extreme allegations in court without any real protection or representation. For this I cannot forgive the court process.”