John Galliano 'guzzled champagne and took valium like candy before his anti-Jewish rant'

The fashion designer said he had been drinking champagne on the day he accused 35-year-old Geraldine Bloch of having a 'dirty Jewish face'.

The shamed Briton also said he had been taking valium pills 'like they were candy' ahead of the attack.

Dressed in a black three-piece suit, with black brogues, black and white polka dot neck tie, and wearing his trademark pencil moustache, Galliano gave evidence in the Paris Correctional Court as a bodyguard sat close by.

He faces six months' jail and a £21,000 fine if found guilty of two anti-Semitic verbal attacks in October and February, which he denies. Video footage of a third incident was shown as evidence.

The 50-year-old former chief designer for Dior, who was fired by the company over the allegations, claims he cannot remember the encounters and denies being a racist.

Judge Anne-Marie Sauteraud said Galliano had delivered a series of 'public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity'.

She said his outbursts were so common during his drinking binges that his chauffeur was 'trained' to telephone a lawyer if rows became too heated.