Saatchi assistants complained they were ‘treated like slaves’

Two personal assistants to Charles Saatchi and his ex-wife Nigella Lawson complained that they were "being treated worse than Filipino slaves" when they were confronted over their alleged spending sprees on the couple's credit cards, a court has heard.

Rahul Gajjar, finance director for wealthy art dealer Mr Saatchi, told jurors that Elisabetta Grillo (41), made the claim after he wrote to her and her sister about their alleged use of the celebrity couple's credit cards to buy £685,000-worth of luxury goods for themselves.

Mr Gajjar told jurors that at first Elisabetta, referred to in court as Lisa, and co-defendant Francesca (35) were open and apologetic about their spending spree.

But he said that after he wrote them each a letter outlining how the sisters would pay off their debt which they were expected to sign, they became “agitated”.

“Lisa was against the proposal and I remember a reference to ‘We’re being treated worse than Filipino slaves’,” Mr Gajjar (44), told jurors at Isleworth Crown Court in west London.

Millionaire art dealer Charles Saatchi is expected to be questioned on details of his marriage to Lawson today when he gives evidence in the trial.

PA