Scotland Yard has announced that it will not pursue drug charges against celebrity chef Nigella Lawson after she admitted to using cocaine twice during court testimony.

Nigella Lawson Admitted To Drug Use

In December, 2013, Lawson provided testimony in the trial against personal assistants, and sisters, Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who were employed by Lawson and her ex-husband Charles Saatchi when they were still married. The Grillo sisters were on trial for fraud as Saatchi claims they stole upwards of $1 million from the couple by fraudulently purchasing luxury items for themselves on credit cards provided by Saatchi when they were supposed to be buying items for the Saatchi/Lawson home. They have since been acquitted.

Lawson was called to the stand after the defense brought up an e-mail written by Saatchi in which he claimed that Lawson would not have been aware of any alleged fraud due to her cocaine and marijuana habit. When Lawson addressed the court, she admitted to using cocaine twice, but insists that they were two very separate incidents and that she had never developed any sort of habit of doing illegal drugs. In fact, she stated that the second and last time she had used was in July 2010, when she was having marital problems.

“I’ve never been a drug addict, I’ve never been a habitual user. I did not have a drug problem, I had a life problem,” Lawson testified.

'No Further Action' Will Be Taken Against Lawson For Drug Use

As a celebrity, Lawson’s testimony quickly became headline news, and many wondered whether or not her admission of guilt would land her in trouble with the law. However, the Metropolitan Police released a statement statin that “no further action” would be taken against Lawson in regards to her previous drug use. The Metropolitan Police states that they have reached this conclusion after a specialist team reviewed the facts of the case and maintain that they did not find evidence to suggest that pursuing the matter would be “in the public interest.” The statement also highlights the greater issue of the precedent that would be set should they pursue charges against Lawson for information obtained in such a way.

“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,” concludes the Metropolitan Police.

Lawson has not commented on the announcement, and has instead been focusing on her cooking show The Taste, which airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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More on Nigella Lawson:

Nigella Lawson Admits Use Of Cocaine During Fraud Trial

Charles Saatchi, Nigella Lawson Headed For Divorce

Nigella Lawson’s Husband Charles Saatchi Allegedly Choked Her During Lunch Fight

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