U2 Bassist Adam Clayton Testifies Against Former Personal Assistant

U2 bassist Adam Clayton has testified against a former personal assistant accused of stealing millions from him, reports the BBC. Carol Hawkins is accused of embezzling 2.8 million euros, or around $3.5 million, from Clayton from 2004 to 2008, and she faces 181 counts of theft.

Clayton was questioned in court on his working relationship with Hawkins, confirming she was a signatory on two of his bank accounts. Hawkins worked for Clayton for 16 years, and was originally employed by him alongside her husband until their separation in 2007.

Clayton revealed to the jury that Hawkins admitted in 2008 to burning through 13,000 to 15,000 euros – approximately $16,300 to $18,800 – on his account to visit her children in the U.S. and London.

Though Clayton later removed Hawkins from his accounts, he kept her on board as an employee. “In the matter of the money, I accepted she was a distressed woman. Her marriage broke up, her children had gone away,” he said. “She had my absolute trust. We had been together a long time – working together. She had been very conscientious . . . I felt she looked after my money and on many occasions accused others of being greedy, so I was extremely surprised.”