Heiress accused of going on binge while caring for child

Heiress accused of going on binge while caring for child

Nicole Ovchinnikova, 37, is accused of going on a 17-hour all night booze binge while looking after a child

A billionaire heiress is accused of going on a 17-hour all night booze binge while looking after a child.

Nicole Ovchinnikova, 37, is alleged to have downed bottles of wine after arriving at The International Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, east London, at 5.30pm on March 1.

Ovchinnikova, who is said to be friends with Kate Moss and Paris Hilton, was still drinking 17 hours later, at around 10.30am the following morning, Stratford Magistrates' Court heard.

The child was said to be present and even sitting on her lap at 7am when police arrived and a witness said they thought the girl had not slept.

The socialite has claimed she didn't get drunk but got dragged into an argument h er friend, Paul Brierley, was having with hotel staff.   

Ovchinnikova allegedly verbally abused police officers who could smell alcohol on her breath and there were a large number of empty glasses on the table.

Former PC Louise Wright said Ovchinnikova was 'shouting about paedophiles' and banged her hands on the floor of the police van as she was taken to Bethnal Green Police Station in east London.

In a police interview the Russian fashion designer admitted to sharing three bottles of wine with Mr Brierley, the court heard.

But Ovchinnikova now claims to have drunk only a small part of the wine she was given during dinner.

She also claims that both her and the child went to bed before coming back down for breakfast the next morning at around 7pm.

Ovchinnikova said she had taken inso mnia pills which made her seem 'groggy', but denies being drunk.

Ovchinnikova, previously known as Nicole Sconciaforni, was an occasional model whose family is said to have links with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich

The court heard she had been on a business meeting with an Iranian associate to discuss an oil deal, before going to pick up the child at around 7pm.

Magistrates were told the child had not eaten since lunch and so Ovchinnikova was desperate to feed the girl and went to Mr Brierly's room after going to the hotel restaurant.

She said: 'I was upset because she hadn't eaten and was not in bed. I wasn't filing my own glass, I was not paying attention to my glass.

'But it wouldn't have been more than two glasses, maybe not even that because when we left there was still some in the glass.

'I also spilt some down myself as well.

'I was absolutely not drunk. Why should I drink in the day. I only said I was to police because the duty solicitor told me to just admit it and take the charges and I will get the child back.

'I was panicking and offended they tried to pull me into somebody else's argument.

'I was upset and I couldn't breathe because of asthma and my main concern was to get the child back.'

Ovchinnikova denies one count of being drunk in charge of a child

Ovchinnikova claims she was not involved in Mr Brierley's argument with hotel staff when she came down to breakfast and only became angry when police came to take the child away.

She added: 'He looked angry and I didn't want to get involved.

'I was shocked I didn't understand what was going on, he was very drunk and people were picking on him, especially a lady who works at the hotel.

'I didn't want to get involved in some else's argument.'

Under cross-examination Ovchinnikova was asked why she took her wine with her from the hotel restaurant as she left with the child and Mr Brierley.

Sonya Fox Smith prosecuting said: 'Is it usual for you to take your wine with you?

'The night manager said he saw from his office that on a number of occasions he saw you in the lobby between 1am and 7.30am.

'He not only saw you but he says he went about his duties he saw you being loud and that you couldn't walk properly. His view was that you were drunk.

'The day manager also saw you in the lobby at 7am but you say you were in your room at that time.'

It was also put to Ovchinnikova she was drunk because she was upset at hearing her ex-partner had got her best friend pregnant.

Ms Fox Smith said: 'I'm suggesting you were with Paul and that you were given some bad news.

'You said he was sleeping with your friend while you were pregnant and this news upset you.

'You said in interview you were drinking from 8pm to 10am, you and Paul had three bottles of win e.

'When the police arrived the child was sitting on your lap at the time.'

But Ovchinnikova insists she sent emails to an Air BnB client and to ASDA for an online order but was not drunk.

She added: 'He (the night manager) is not telling the truth, I'm honest and reliable. 

Ovchinnikova, previously known as Nicole Sconciaforni, was an occasional model whose family is said to have links with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. 

She was a regular sight at London parties in the 2000s with Kate Moss and Paris Hilton among her friends.

She now runs fashion label Brandy Melville, which has shops on the King’s Road in Chelsea, Carnaby Street and in Covent Garden. 

She denies being drunk in charge of a child. 

The trial resumes next month, when she will give evidence.

  

 

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