CHARLES Saatchi has told a court he is "utterly heartbroken" to have divorced Nigella Lawson, telling jurors he absolutely adores her.

When asked if he believed ­allegations that his former wife was a habitual cocaine user whose mind was so "addled with drugs" she allowed their staff to spend what they liked, the art dealer said: "Not for a second."

Giving evidence in the trial of two of his former personal assistants, Mr Saatchi said it was a "terrible, terrible mistake" that a private email he sent to the TV chef, referring to her as "Hi-gella" and claiming she had been using drugs, had been made public.

Mr Saatchi said: "I'm utterly bereft that this private email has come back to haunt us both."

Isleworth Crown Court, in west London, previously heard that Italian sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo are accused of using company credit cards to spend more than £685,000 on themselves.

Jurors listened intently as details of the breakdown of the 10-year marriage took centre stage over the allegations against the defendants.

The multi-millionaire, who went through a high-profile divorce from the food writer earlier this year, told the court: "I adore Nigella. I'm broken-hearted to have lost her. I wanted her to be happy."

Mr Saatchi looked exasperated as the now infamous incident outside Scott's restaurant in London, where he was photographed holding Miss Lawson by the throat, was brought up at least twice during cross-examination.

Anthony Metzer, QC, representing Elisabetta, 41, asked whether it was during an argument about her taking drugs.

"I was not gripping, strangling or throttling her. I was holding her head by the neck to make her focus, can we be clear?

"Was it about her drug use? No."

Asked by Mr Metzer to explain what he meant in the email he sent Miss Lawson on October 10, in which he said he could "only laugh at your sorry depravity", Mr Saatchi said: "I was very upset. I wasn't laughing, I was broken-hearted."

Jurors heard the email went on: "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."

Referring to claims his former wife was so incapacitated by drugs she was not aware what she had or had not permitted the sisters to buy, he said: "The stories that the Grillos were parading was that Nigella had a severe cocaine habit.

"What I was speculating here was that the Grillos would use this as a defence."

Questioned about the drug-taking allegations, Mr Saatchi told the court: "It was hearsay. I personally have absolutely no knowledge that Nigella has ever taken a drug ever."

The Saatchi Gallery owner admitted he had "no interest" in the financial side of his business, telling jurors that when the defendants' alleged fraud first came to his attention: "I rather foolishly thought I would overlook it as them getting carried away and being naughty."

The defendants deny the charge against them.

It is alleged that between ­January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2012, they committed fraud by abusing their positions as PAs by using a company credit card for personal gain.

Miss Lawson is expected to give evidence in the trial next Wednesday.