The WPP executive depicted in a "grossly offensive" image with Sir Martin Sorrell began giving evidence at the high court today behind closed doors.

Daniela Weber, the chief operating officer of WPP Italy, and Sir Martin, WPP's chief executive, are suing two former colleagues for invasion of privacy, accusing them of circulating the image by email last year.

Sir Martin is also alleging that Marco Benatti, WPP's former "country manager" in Italy, and his lieutenant Marco Tinelli libelled him in a series of internet blogs that likened him to a mafia don. Mr Benatti and Mr Tinelli both deny the allegations of libel and invasion of privacy.

Ms Weber gave evidence by video link from Milan, but under reporting restrictions journalists attending the case were barred from the court as her evidence began.

Blue curtains were drawn across the court's windows to prevent the video screen from being watched from outside court 13 of the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Earlier today, on the fourth day of the trial, the court was told how the atmosphere within WPP Italy degenerated in the year leading up to Mr Benatti's dismissal.

Danilo Tani, WPP Italy's chief financial officer, told the court how Mr Benatti and Ms Weber - who had known each other for more than 20 years - began to have "heated conversations" in the autumn of 2005 as she resisted his calls for an increased projects budget.

Mr Tani said how he had learned of Mr Benatti's frustrations on a Christmas shopping trip for Tiffany crystal apples in late 2005.

"At this meeting, he told me that he could not continue like this because he felt that Ms Weber was thwarting him on everything," Mr Tani said in his witness statement.

"I told him my own view that she was simply not happy to support extravagant or inappropriate projects, not opposed to him personally. He said he was convinced that she needed to be moved."

Mr Benatti felt he was not free to make decisions and lacked the power and authority he wanted, Mr Tani added.

"He also said he thought his business relationship with Sir Martin had been destroyed by Ms Weber, but he did not know why."

On the day of his eventual dismissal, January 9 2006, Mr Benatti told Mr Tani that had doubts about whether he could resolve matters after "bad" emails that he had exchanged with Sir Martin.

Mr Tani also denied suggestions that Ms Weber's personal relationship with Sir Martin had played a part in the problems at WPP.

He said he had himself known of the relationship since late 2004, after seeing Sir Martin and Ms Weber together in front of a church in Milan, and later being informed privately by Ms Weber.

"It is also untrue to suggest, as the defendants do, that Ms Weber behaved differently or badly with WPP Italy employees as a result of her relationship with Sir Martin," Mr Tani said.

"I certainly did not find this to be the case. The fact that she was having a relationship with Sir Martin did not change the way in which she treated WPP Italy employees, including me."

Ms Weber and Sir Martin are no longer in a relationship.

The case continues.

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