Phone tycoon’s former aide accused of expenses theft

PHONES4U billionaire John Caudwell’s former right-hand woman claimed expenses for a haircut, a “detox week” and beauty treatment, a court has heard.

French financial expert Nathalie Dauriac, is in a High Court battle with the businessman after being accused of stealing expenses. Credit Card statements showed she spent £111 on coffee with three other people, a judge heard. She also claimed £38.97 for coffee with one other person.

Ms Dauriac was chief executive at a wealth management company she set up with Mr Caudwell but left after complaints about expenses claims, Mr Justice Marcus Smith heard.

Bosses at Signia Wealth Management say Ms Dauriac wrongfully claimed around £30,000 expenses and that she decided to resign rather than face the consequences of her actions.

Ms Dauriac says there was an ulterior motive behind an expenses investigation and has complained of constructive dismissal and not getting what she was due. She says she lost more than £10million worth of shares and wants compensation. All sides dispute allegations made against them.

Mr Justice Smith has been shown an expenses spreadsheet put together by lawyers representing Signia showing claims for flights plus claims for gifts for Mr Caudwell, who founded mobile phone firm Phones4u. It included a £200.70 claim for “beauty treatment in Paris with John Caudwell”, £104 for a birthday cake and a £127.07 flight claim to Spain for a “ladies client detox week”.

Signia lawyers said a credit card statement relating to a £135 “John Caudwell meeting” claim showed that the money had been spent at “Mad Lillies hair salon”. Thomas Plewman QC, who is leading Ms Dauriac’s legal team said claims had to be seen in context. “They say expenses were funding a lavish lifestyle,” he said. “We say that is the wrong analysis. This is not a hardware store, this business. This is a relationship business.”