Nigella 'let her children smoke cannabis', says assistant isters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo arrive at Isleworth Crown Court in west London on Friday (TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS) Miss Grillo said the money was for "cigarettes for the children" of Miss Lawson and Mr Saatchi, and that "Nigella allowed me to do that." Miss Carpenter asked: "What on Earth do you think you're doing buying cigarettes for under-age children?" Miss Grillo, an Italian, replied: "Well, if Nigella Lawson lets the children smoking weed ..." Last week Miss Lawson told the jury at Isleworth Crown Court in west London that she had occasionally smoked cannabis in front of her children. She also admitted taking cocaine on seven occasions. Miss Grillo was asked why she had made no mention of Miss Lawson's drug use in her original defence statement, before deciding to rely on the cook's "habitual" drug use as part of her defence two weeks before the trial was due to start. Referring to Miss Lawson's row in Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, when Mr Saatchi was photographed grabbing her by the throat and nose, Miss Grillo said: "I wanted to protect her, but ... when the Scott's accident came out, it was the proof that she still do drugs and he discovered that day, so we decided it was the moment for everybody to know the truth. She had lied. When I saw the picture I was in shock, and then I saw other pictures, he picked her nose, so in my eyes it was like that. Miss Lawson and Mr Saatchi, who divorced in July, had both denied their row was about drugs, or that Mr Saatchi was examining her nose for cocaine, though Mr Saatchi said he became aware of his wife's drug use around the time of the row. Miss Grillo claimed Miss Lawson was "afraid" that Mr Saatchi would think she allowed aides to spend his money in return for their silence over her drug use, and that - although no such agreement existed - this fear "informed" her relationship with Miss Lawson. Miss Carpenter asked the defendant about designer clothes allegedly bought on the credit card without permission. Miss Grillo said her wardrobe included five dresses by Sandro, five dresses by Marc Jacobs, five designer handbags, shoes by Chanel and coats by Burberry. She said she never spent money that was not authorised by Miss Lawson. "She is a nice person and she wanted to make me happy," she added. She was very generous. Miss Carpenter asked: "You think she gave you permission to spend tens of thousands of pounds? You've pushed your luck, haven't you? It was authorised," Miss Grillo replied.