A FASHION designer favoured by celebrities, whose signature dress shot to prominence after being worn by Nigella Lawson, was assaulted by her former partner during a “childish” public argument over custody of a toaster.
In December, Katya Wildman, 39, who designed the “Bombshell” dress, turned up at the four-bedroom house in North Finchley, London, that she had shared with Stephan Law, 42, a court heard.
The designer, who also counts Jerry Hall, the model, and Anjelica Houston, the actress, among fans of her designs, began her relationship with Law in December 2009, but they had not been together for two years when the incident occurred.
He helped promote her business, which received additional publicity when Nigella, the television cook, bought 12 “Bombshell” dresses.
“She had a set of keys because she was still the co-owner of the house,” Ranesh Patel, prosecuting, told Brent magistrates’ court. “She let herself in to collect the [Christmas] tree for their three-year-old daughter.
“She also took the toaster that she paid for, and Mr Law grabbed hold of it, resulting in both of them grappling over the toaster.”
The court heard that Mr Law managed to take the toaster off her, but at that point she threw his house keys into the neighbour’s garden.
“He retrieved keys and rushed back to his front door, where he barged past her and with both his hands pushed her on her shoulders – she says a hard push – causing her to fall on to the concrete path,” said Mr Patel. “She
his thought she was going to bang her head on the concrete, and the neighbour, who witnessed the commotion, agrees it was a hard push, and he was also surprised she did not bang her head.”
Law, the former head of administration at Bombshell by Katya Wildman, pleaded guilty to assault, and was conditionally discharged for two years, ordered to pay £350 costs and £75 compensation to Ms Wildman, plus a £15 victim surcharge.
A three-year restraining order was also made prohibiting Law going to Ms Wildman’s appointment-only showroom in Finchley or her home in Muswell Hill.
In her statement she claimed the defendant had been verbally abusive during the relationship. “He would call me fat and humiliate me when we were out in public. If we were at a restaurant he would make the waiter get more food. I started eating in private.
“When I had a rash on my leg and bum he said it was disgusting and spat on me.”
Martin Lewis, for Law, said there was no history of violence or abuse in the relationship. “She herself describes it as a tumultuous relationship and says the defendant suffered obsessive compulsive disorder. On this occasion, not unusually, they had words. The toaster had been there for more than a year and she decided at that point she wanted it back and they both acted childishly and there began a tug-of-war over the toaster. “You can imagine the sight of two grown people tussling on the doorstep over a toaster; and Mr Law feared he was going to be locked out, and so there is a race to the front door and he pushes her. She acted foolishly by trying to grab the toaster. They are both stupid and childish people in this case.”