Nigella Lawson failed to come clean to police on drug use, court hears The court was told that Miss Lawson became aware in October of witness statements published on the internet alleging that she was a heavy cocaine and cannabis user. On Oct 10 she told police she wanted to "withdraw" from giving evidence because she felt that Mr Saatchi would use the trial "as an opportunity to damage her." Det Sgt Peter Lewis, the senior investigating officer on the case, told the court that Miss Lawson told him she was not a "drug addict." "I took it to mean that she didn't take drugs," he said. He added that he did not ask her any further questions about drug use. Miss Lawson later changed her mind and said she wanted to do her "duty" by giving evidence. The court heard that credit cards issued by Mr Saatchi were regularly used to make purchases for Miss Lawson. Zoe Wales, one of her aides, bought Donna Karan clothes for her in 22 transactions in London and New York totalling £55,567.68 over four years. Another aide, Anzelle Wasserman, said that a Donna Karan coat she wore to court was a gift from Miss Lawson, who told her it "looks so much nicer on you." Miss Lawson told the court last week that she was "not very good on fashion" and joked that "most of what I earn" is spent in Donna Karan. A credit card held by Alice Binks, who worked for Miss Lawson from 2010 until last year, was used to make £143,000 of purchases in 20 months, including £18,545 to a company called Rhubarb Food for Lord Lawson's 80th birthday party in 2011; £15,500 to the Shoreditch House private members" club for Miss Lawson's daughter Cosima's 18th birthday party and £3,000 for a one-night stay at The Ritz, another 18th birthday treat.