Nigella Lawson will face no police action over drug use
By Nick Levine
Nigella Lawson will face no further police action after admitting in court to occasional drug use.
During the fraud trial of her former assistants Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo in December, Lawson revealed she that took cocaine with her late husband John Diamond when she learned he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
She also confessed to taking cocaine again in 2010 when she was being “subjected” to what she called “intimate terrorism” by her estranged husband Charles Saatchi.
However, the Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement released today (January 27) that they will not be moving forward with any kind of criminal investigation because of “serious public interest concerns”.
The full statement explained: “The decision has been taken based on a number of factors, including the need for police action to be proportionate, whether further action would be in the public interest, and after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.
“There are serious public interest concerns about the message any prosecution would send out to potential witnesses and victims in the future. Whilst witnesses clearly cannot simply admit to any offence under oath without consequences, this has to be balanced with the requirement for victims and witnesses to tell the truth. Further police activity may deter victims from being candid with police and in court for fear of future investigation.”
Lawson is currently appearing on cooking reality show The Taste, which airs Mondays at 9pm on Channel 4.
> Martyn Hett on why we bloody love Nigella Lawson, regardless