Charles Saatchi has told a UK court he is "utterly bereft" that a private email he sent to ex-wife Nigella Lawson referring to her being off her head on drugs has been made public.
The email he wrote to the TV chef was read in full to jurors but, when asked if he believed allegations that Lawson was a habitual cocaine user, the art dealer said: "I do not know."
"If you ask me whether I actually knew whether Nigella ever took drugs, the answer is no," Saatchi added as he gave evidence at Isleworth Crown Court in west London, where his two former personal assistants are on trial accused of fraud.
Italian sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo are accused of using credit cards loaned to them by the celebrity couple to spend more than STG685,000 ($A1.2 million) on themselves.
Saatchi listened as the email he sent to Lawson on October 10 was read out to jurors.
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In it he referred to his ex-wife as 'Higella' at one point.
He wrote: "Nigella, I was sent these by a newspaper and I can only laugh at your sorry depravity.
"Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you ... were so off your heads on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked and yes I believe every word the Grillos have said, who after all only stole money."
The email went on: "But I'm sure it was all great fun and now everything is perfect - bravo, you have become a celebrity hostess on a global TV game show. And you got the Pass you desired, free to heartily enjoy all the drugs you want, forever. Classy."
It is alleged that the Grillo sisters lived the "high life", spending the money on designer clothes and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Vivienne Westwood.
