Police to probe Nigella Lawson's drug admission
A specialist police task force has been commissioned to review evidence after celebrity chef Nigella Lawson admitted in court to taking cocaine.
The TV cook owned up to using cocaine and marijuana when she was questioned as a witness in the fraud trial of her two former aides, sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, earlier this month (Dec13).
The women were found not guilty at a court in London on Friday
(20Dec13) and police officials subsequently declared they would not
be investigating Lawson's drug admissions, but Scotland Yard has
now released a new statement to clarify its position.
The statement reads, "After the MPS' (Metropolitan Police Service)
decision not to investigate at this stage was queried in press
reporting, we would like to clarify the position with regard to
this witness (Lawson). The senior investigating officer received
legal advice that the witness's admissions did not by themselves
provide sufficient evidence to bring charges.
"On that basis therefore, and in absence of any other
corroboration, there is no imminent prospect of a prosecution being
mounted. As we said however, should any evidence come to light that
can be investigated further, we will review this decision. A
specialist team from the MPS will nevertheless examine all the
evidence emerging as part of a review into this matter and in
conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service, will determine an
appropriate way forward."
Lawson previously branded her involvement in the trial "a
ridiculous sideshow" and criticized officials for not giving her
the right to respond to allegations suggesting she was a habitual
drug user.