Television cook Nigella Lawson was unhappy in her marriage to Charles Saatchi and was blocked from working abroad by him, her former personal assistant has told a court.
Francesca Grillo, 35, and her sister Elisabetta, 41, are accused of defrauding the celebrity couple by spending STG685,000 ($A1.25 million) on credit cards belonging to them.
Isleworth Crown Court, west London, heard the siblings bought designer clothes, shoes and luxury holidays.
But Francesca told the jury she was given a bank card to withdraw her own salary and buy "anything I wanted".
She described her relationship with Saatchi and Lawson, who divorced earlier this year, as being as close as family.
Lawson would often confide in her about her job, her husband and her desire to break America.
Lawson appeared on an American television program this year but kept putting off an earlier offer before that show began because her then-husband did not approve, the jury was told.
"Charles didn't like the idea of her being away for too long," said Francesca.
Asked by defence counsel Karina Arden if Lawson was happy, Francesca replied: "I think in general, no. In her relationship, no.
"She's a very social woman. She likes people. She is a people person and Charles is quite opposite.
"Many, many occasions she had to turn down things, going out, because Charles didn't approve."
Francesca said she was handed a bank card upon first being employed more than a decade ago, with the simple instruction to withdraw her STG300 a week wages and to buy anything she, Saatchi, Lawson or their children needed.
She told the court the card was used to furnish her new accommodation in the annex of Saatchi's house, as well as pay for essentials such as groceries.
Francesca admitted she liked designer labels, and there were times when she bought herself expensive items, but said all were authorised by Lawson.
The court heard logs on the credit card included one in excess of STG5000 at the high-end fashion retailer Miu Miu.
On each occasion, the designer goods, which included a pink fur coat and a Christian Dior handbag, were gifts from her boss, who she described as "extremely generous".
She stressed that Lawson always knew about the purchases.
Questioned by Ms Arden about Lawson's evidence earlier in the trial that she would not have authorised such large payments, Francesca replied: "I'm afraid Nigella said many things that are not quite true."
