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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Shoe boss ex-husband 'incapable' | Shoe boss ex-husband 'incapable' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Footwear fashion boss Tamara Mellon has told a court her ex-husband is a former drug addict who behaves like a child. | Footwear fashion boss Tamara Mellon has told a court her ex-husband is a former drug addict who behaves like a child. |
| Matthew Mellon, the 43-year-old heir to an American oil and banking dynasty, was "totally incapable" of dealing with his finances, his former wife said. | Matthew Mellon, the 43-year-old heir to an American oil and banking dynasty, was "totally incapable" of dealing with his finances, his former wife said. |
| He is on trial for allegedly asking private detectives to spy on her finances during divorce proceedings. | He is on trial for allegedly asking private detectives to spy on her finances during divorce proceedings. |
| Mr Mellon denies a count of conspiring to cause unauthorised modification of computer material. | Mr Mellon denies a count of conspiring to cause unauthorised modification of computer material. |
| Mrs Mellon, 38, who is the head of the Jimmy Choo footwear empire, added that her former husband had a memory that made him "miss planes like other people missed buses" and that he needed a "nanny" to get through life. | Mrs Mellon, 38, who is the head of the Jimmy Choo footwear empire, added that her former husband had a memory that made him "miss planes like other people missed buses" and that he needed a "nanny" to get through life. |
| The multi-millionaire president of the shoe manufacturer was giving evidence for the prosecution during Mr Mellon's trial for allegedly hiring a private detective agency, Active Investigation Services (AIS), to invade her financial privacy. | The multi-millionaire president of the shoe manufacturer was giving evidence for the prosecution during Mr Mellon's trial for allegedly hiring a private detective agency, Active Investigation Services (AIS), to invade her financial privacy. |
| The court heard that she met Mr Mellon 10 years ago at a meeting of Narcotics Anonymous at a time when they were both recovering drug addicts. | The court heard that she met Mr Mellon 10 years ago at a meeting of Narcotics Anonymous at a time when they were both recovering drug addicts. |
| Mr Mellon, heir to a £5bn oil and banking fortune, married Tamara Yeardye in a society wedding in 2000 at Blenheim Palace in one of the society events of the year with Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant among the guests. | Mr Mellon, heir to a £5bn oil and banking fortune, married Tamara Yeardye in a society wedding in 2000 at Blenheim Palace in one of the society events of the year with Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant among the guests. |
| Mrs Mellon started divorce proceedings in 2004. | Mrs Mellon started divorce proceedings in 2004. |
| 'Fantastic father' | 'Fantastic father' |
| Mrs Mellon told London's Southwark Crown Court his "absent-mindedness" was so severe she had been unwilling to leave him with their four-year-old daughter, Minty. | Mrs Mellon told London's Southwark Crown Court his "absent-mindedness" was so severe she had been unwilling to leave him with their four-year-old daughter, Minty. |
| Matthew cannot even read a comic let alone a legal document Tamara Mellon | |
| She did, however, described him as a "fantastic father" who was "happy, playful, excitable and very sweet" and who remained her "best friend". | She did, however, described him as a "fantastic father" who was "happy, playful, excitable and very sweet" and who remained her "best friend". |
| Mrs Mellon told prosecutor Miranda Moore, QC, that as part of the settlement negotiations her former husband's solicitors sought the disclosure of the financial state of her company. | Mrs Mellon told prosecutor Miranda Moore, QC, that as part of the settlement negotiations her former husband's solicitors sought the disclosure of the financial state of her company. |
| But her legal team refused to co-operate. | But her legal team refused to co-operate. |
| Mrs Mellon said she became suspicious when she was sent three emails claiming to be from "A Friend" which offered to dish the dirt on her husband. | Mrs Mellon said she became suspicious when she was sent three emails claiming to be from "A Friend" which offered to dish the dirt on her husband. |
| But the emails were an attempt by AIS to hack into her computer by making it possible to record the keystrokes she made on the machine's keyboard. | But the emails were an attempt by AIS to hack into her computer by making it possible to record the keystrokes she made on the machine's keyboard. |
| Mr Mellon's QC Nicholas Purnell then cross-examined Mrs Mellon, who was asked about a dossier of information containing details - including keystroke logs - found at her ex-husband's home when he was arrested. | |
| Mr Purnell asked if Mrs Mellon thought her husband capable of understanding the dossier, which had been supplied by AIS. | |
| "Absolutely not," she replied. "Matthew cannot even read a comic, let alone a legal document. There is absolutely no way he could do it." | |
| She also added that as far as she was aware, Mr Mellon had never even read a book. | |
| Criminal charges | Criminal charges |
| Mr Mellon, now divorced and living in Belgravia, central London, denies one count of conspiring to cause unauthorised modification of computer material between 1 July, 2004 and 4 February, 2005. | Mr Mellon, now divorced and living in Belgravia, central London, denies one count of conspiring to cause unauthorised modification of computer material between 1 July, 2004 and 4 February, 2005. |
| He is on trial with four others at Southwark Crown Court. | He is on trial with four others at Southwark Crown Court. |
| Also in the dock is ex-policeman Scott Gelsthorpe, 32, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, who helped run AIS, agency employee David Carroll, 58, of Highgate, north London; Daniel Carroll, 36, from Westminster, central London; and Maurice Kennedy, 58, of Barnet, north London. | Also in the dock is ex-policeman Scott Gelsthorpe, 32, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, who helped run AIS, agency employee David Carroll, 58, of Highgate, north London; Daniel Carroll, 36, from Westminster, central London; and Maurice Kennedy, 58, of Barnet, north London. |
| Mr Mellon's co-accused variously deny 15 counts of conspiracy, alleging fraud, the unauthorised modification and interception of computer material, and criminal damage. | Mr Mellon's co-accused variously deny 15 counts of conspiracy, alleging fraud, the unauthorised modification and interception of computer material, and criminal damage. |
| After Mrs Mellon had given her evidence, her solicitor read a statement on her behalf outside court. | After Mrs Mellon had given her evidence, her solicitor read a statement on her behalf outside court. |
| It said: "Tamara was obliged to come here and give evidence and tell the truth. | It said: "Tamara was obliged to come here and give evidence and tell the truth. |
| "She would like to make it clear that there is no bitterness between her and Matthew. They remain good friends and are focused on bringing up their daughter." | "She would like to make it clear that there is no bitterness between her and Matthew. They remain good friends and are focused on bringing up their daughter." |
| The trial was adjourned until Friday. | The trial was adjourned until Friday. |