Chauffeur 'trained to phone lawyer during Galliano's drunk rants'

John Galliano used foul language so often after 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 presented at the British fashion designer's trial for anti-Semitism in Paris today. Galliano, 55, hopes to use evidence of his past addictions to alcohol and anti-depressant drugs to avoid a six-month jail sentence.

He blames them for an alleged drunken rant at La Perle, his local bar in Paris, in February which saw him allegedly 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 s**t". Galliano, from Streatham, 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.

The court dossier claims that Galliano's outbursts were so common that "when the f**ks began to fly" his chauffeur was used to calling his lawyer.

During the outburst the driver - who is often seen taking 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 had been asked by bar staff to swap seats but refused and is said to have then suffered a 45-minute tirade during which Galliano accused her of having "revolting eyebrows, low-end boots and low-end thighs".

Ms Bloch's lawyer, Yves Beddouk, said his client only wanted one euro in symbolic damages. A judgment is expected in September.