London - The Marquess of Blandford (44) yesterday wept in the witness-box as he described the effect drug abuse has had on his life, as he stood trial for shoplifting goods worth £237 from an exclusive department store.
He told a jury he was receiving treatment at London's Priory Clinic when he was arrested for the alleged theft and was about to fly off to America for counselling after a serious car crash.
The former cocaine addict said he was "anxious" and "fearful" about the trip to a specialist clinic in Arizona and the incident at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, central London, was a case of absentmindedness.
He denies a single charge of stealing two pairs of Cutler and Gross sunglasses priced at more than £100 each and a £10 stick of deodorant.
Blandford, who gave his address as Beevis Farm, Charlbury, Oxon, and is appearing under his full name of Charles James Spencer-Churchill, told the jury at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court: "I first started using drugs in 1981."