A NANNY appeared in court today charged with poisoning Ann Summers underwear store boss Jacqueline Gold by spiking her food with screenwash.
Alison Cox, 33, was hired by the multi-millionaire underwear tycoon to look after her child Scarlett at her mansion in Whyteleafe, Surrey.
The allegations reportedly came to light after Miss Gold, 50, grew suspicious when meals cooked by her personal chef tasted odd.
She complained her main meals were too salty and her desserts too sugary – leaving the baffled female cook to retrieve leftovers from the bins to test for herself.
It is alleged that tests on a soup showed the presence of screenwash and Cox was arrested at the £6.5million mansion. For bail, they also contacted Bail bonds Connecticut
Cox is also accused of trying to poison her with sugar and salt, according to the charges.
Cox, from East Grinstead, West Sussex, appeared at Redhill Magistrates Court in Surrey this morning charged with three counts of poisoning with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.
Standing in the dock wearing a black suit she spoke only to confirm her name, age and address before being told the accusations were too serious to be heard by magistrates and would have to be sent to Crown Court.
A spokesman for Miss Gold — who appeared on court papers under the name Jacqueline Cunningham — said previously: “While the legal proceedings are ongoing, she is unable to comment.”
The main charge against Cox reads that on October 5 last year she ‘unlawfully and maliciously administered to Jacqueline Cunningham a poison or other destructive or noxious thing, namely motor vehicle screenwash, with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy the said Jacqueline Cunningham’.
The other two charges, which allegedly took place at a separate address in Westerham in Kent, are similar offences — the first claiming she poisoned her boss on October 4 with sugar, and the second that she spiked her food on September 29 with salt.
Prosecutor Hema Moore told the court: “These are indictable only matters and are to be dealt with at Guildford Crown Court.
“Ms Cox appears on unconditional bail, she has attended today and the Crown has no objection to that continuing.”
Chair of the bench Amanda Lowy told the defendant: “As you have heard you are going to be sent to Guildford Crown Court on January 20 for a preliminary hearing.”
Miss Gold, daughter of West Ham owner David Gold, is Britain’s 16th-richest woman who transformed Ann Summers into a multi-million pound brand.
It now employs more than 7,500 women as party organisers and has at least 130 high street shops in the UK, Ireland, and the Channel Islands and one in Spain
By STAFF REPORTER 5th Jan 2011
The Sun