John Galliano was so used to swearing out loud following Champagne binges that his chauffeur was 'trained' to telephone a lawyer if arguments became too heated, it was alleged today.The bizarre claim is contained in a legal dossier which will be presented at the British fashion designer's trial for anti-Semitism in Paris.
Galliano, 50, is hoping that his past addictions to vast quantities of alcohol combined with anti-depressant drugs will help him avoid a six-month prison sentence.
He blames them for an alleged drunken rant at La Perle, his local bar in the French capital, in February which allegedly saw him tell Geraldine Bloch, a 35-year-old museum curator, that she had a 'dirty Jewish face'.
When her partner, 41-year-old Philippe Virgitti, intervened he was allegedly called 'a dirty Asian' and Galliano also implied that the Frenchman was an 'illegal immigrant'.
In turn, Mr Virgitti is said to have threatened to hit the sacked Dior chief designer over the head with a chair, before police arrived to restore order.
According to the court dossier, Galliano's outbursts were so common that 'when the f**** began to fly' his chauffeur was accustomed to calling the designer's lawyer.
It is claimed in the court papers that during the outburst on February 24 the driver - who is often seen chauffeuring Galliano around Paris in a bright yellow New York City cab - said he tried to put the solicitor on the phone to Ms Bloch.
She was asked by bar staff to 'swap seats', but refused, and instead is said to have suffered a 45-minute tirade during which Galliano accused the petite brunette of having 'revolting eyebrows, low-end boots and low-end thighs'.
Asked by police if he had been drinking, Galliano told officers: 'I drank Champagne at lunch and during the afternoon I had a glass of Champagne while I did my shopping.
'I had dinner at a brasserie where I had some more Champagne, and finally I had a mojito at La Perle.'
Asked why he thought Ms Bloch had complained, Galliano is alleged to have said: 'It's possible this lady and her friend would like to profit from this opportunity - to sordidly get some money and publicity.'
Galliano will appear in person in the 17th Chamber of the historic Paris Correctional Court along with Ms Bloch and Mr Virgitti, as well as a third woman who said she suffered a similar verbal attack in the same bar last October.
Anti-Jewish behaviour is a criminal offence in France, meaning the multi-millionaire bachelor faces a six-month prison sentence, as well as a £21,000 fine, if found guilty of hurling 'public insults based on the origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity' of three people.
After the allegations were made, a video emerged of Galliano apparently telling two Italian women that their forebears should have been 'gassed', and saying 'I love Hitler'.
Neither of the women has pressed charges, but the video will play an important part in the prosecution case.
Galliano's lawyer, Aurelien Hamelle, said: 'Some things may have come out of his mouth that didn't come from his brain,' explaining that his client had since spent two months being treated at the Meadows, a rehabilitation centre in Arizona.
Mr Hamelle said that, faced with mounting commercial pressures at Dior and his eponymous label, Galliano had been swallowing Valium pills 'like they were candy'.
'When he was in this state, he had no way of knowing or remembering what he said. Every witness at the cafe has said he was acting out of character.'
Ms Bloch's lawyer, Yves Beddouk, said his client was not interested in money, and solely wanted 1 euro (around 90p) in symbolic damages.
She also wanted the court's decision published in the French and international press, as well as in fashion magazines such as Elle and Vogue.
Mr Beddouk said: 'Galliano considered that he was on his own territory, and that people he didn't like had no right to be there.
'When you've got such a big reputation, you need to be even more respectful and cautious than ordinary people.'
One of the key legal points during the case will be whether English swear words have the same effect in French, said prosecution sources.
Galliano always swore in English, while all of his alleged victims are said to be from France. None is Jewish.
The court case is expected to last around five hours this afternoon, with a judgement being handed down in September.