Tycoon calls former aide ‘most amazing liar I have ever met’
MOBILE phones tycoon John Caudwell yesterday branded his former righthand woman “the most amazing liar I have ever met in my life”.
The Phones4u founder used his testimony at the High Court to denounce Nathalie Dauriac as “Machiavellian”.
Mr Caudwell, 65, also revealed to the London court that the French banker apologised for submitting tens of thousands of pounds in inflated expense claims with an emotional email. Ms Dauriac, 39, wrote: “John, again, I love you and for what it’s worth, I have never intentionally wanted to let you down.”
The pair are locked in a legal dispute sparked when Mr Caudwell accused her of falsifying expenses as chief executive of their joint venture company Signia Wealth. He alleges she charged items costing £33,000 – including holiday flights for herself, her husband, their daughter and nanny – to the company.
Signia is seeking a declaration from Mr Justice Marcus Smith that their actions in investigating Ms Dauriac for gross misconduct were correct.
In turn, she is suing the company and Mr Caudwell, its major financial backer, for unfair dismissal and up to £17million in lost shares.
Cross-examined by her barrister, Thomas Plewman, QC, Mr Caudwell said: “Miss Dauriac is the most amazing liar I have ever met in my life. She is so Machiavellian.
“The vast majority of what she says is fabrication.”
He also told the hearing that Signia staff were afraid to report her behaviour in case they were smeared with allegations of involvement in “drugs and in illicit sex”.
Mr Caudwell said: “She wielded a reign of terror over individuals. I heard stories of two or three people who had nervous breakdowns or virtually nervous breakdowns.”
As he gave evidence yesterday, he was faced from the back of the room by two other women – Tracy Gehlan and Suzette Burger – who are due to give evidence against him.
In his written submission, Mr Caudwell told of his disgust that Miss Dauriac claimed for trips aboard his yacht in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and at his Colorado ski ranch. He also included a copy of the email in which she offered a “full apology” for “her actions”.
Admitting that claims worth £26,000 were dubious, she added: “The vast majority of these are mistakes.
“I will admit there are a number of occasions over the last year when items (although linked to a client event) should have been paid for personally.”
In verbal evidence, Mr Caudwell said: “I couldn’t understand for the life of me why she had done it. I was placed in this terrible situation of having a thief in the company who was fraudulently misrepresenting her expenses.”
Miss Dauriac left Signia two years ago after being confronted with the allegations. Despite her apology, she denies abusing her account, claims she was entitled to seek the reimbursements and accused her old boss of using the investigation as a ruse to force her out.
The hearing continues.