A court in the UK has heard celebrity cook Nigella Lawson took drugs. The claim was made ahead of the fraud trial of two women who used to work for her and her former husband Charles Saatchi.

Italian sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who were personal assistants, are accused of using a credit card given to them by the celebrity couple to buy things for themselves.

They deny the charges.

The court was read an e-mail from Mr. Saatchi to Ms. Lawson saying the defendants "would get off" because Ms. Lawson was "so off your head on drugs".

The email read "Now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you, Mimi (and another person) were so off your head on drugs you allowed them to spend whatever they like".

"Yes, I believe every word they said".

Judge Robin Johnson said the e-mail could be reported, despite the trial at Isleworth Crown Court in west London not having yet started.

It is alleged that between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2012, the Grillos committed fraud by abusing their positions as PAs by using a company credit card for personal gain.

The TV cook is expected to give evidence during the trial, which is due to last at least two weeks.

Earlier this year, Ms. Lawson applied to divorce Saatchi on the grounds of his continuing unreasonable behaviour.

The pair broke up after pictures were published in a newspaper in June showing the millionaire art dealer holding his wife of 10 years by the throat.

The incident on the terrace of Scott's restaurant in central London, was dismissed by Mr. Saatchi as nothing more than "a playful tiff" but he later accepted a police caution for assault.