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Silvia Arbasino, Benatti's PA, also said that Benatti, who is accused of a crude internet campaign against Sorrell, was a gentleman who would never act in such a way, the High Court heard today in the ongoing libel trial brought by the WPP chief executive.

Benatti was an "inspirational and kind person", who had a lot of time for people and whose family were of huge importance to him, Silvia Arbasino, his 33-year-old personal assistant, said.

The blog and jpeg image at the centre of 62-year-old Sir Martin's libel and privacy actions were "simply not his style", according to the witness.

Sorrell is suing Milan-based media company, FullSix, its founder Benatti and his alleged "lieutenant", chief executive Marco Tinelli.

He has accused them of disseminating a blog alleging criminal activity and money laundering, a "vicious" image of himself and WPP Italy chief operating officer Daniela Weber, and of labelling them "the mad dwarf and the nympho schizo".

Weber is also suing for breach of privacy.

Desmond Browne QC, counsel for Sorrell and Weber, had previously told Mr Justice Eady, who is hearing the action in London without a jury, that there was "overwhelming" forensic evidence against the two men.

The case concerns the aftermath of a broken 21-year friendship between Benatti and Weber and of Sir Martin's termination of Benatti's consultancy as country manager for WPP Italy.

Arbasino, who has been Benatti's PA since 1999, said: "I consider him to be a gentleman and, given the crudeness of the emails the subject of this claim, I would be shocked to learn that he had had anything to do with them.

"It is true he felt badly treated by WPP, Sir Martin Sorrell and Daniela Weber, but this is never the way I would expect a person like Marco Benatti to retaliate."

She said that she felt some amusement and some shock when she translated the March 2006 blog referring to "Don Martino".

"I remember clicking on the link entitled "Poisoned Dwarf" which led me to another website criticising Martin. It struck me that he had many enemies and critics."

The blog referred in "quite some detail" to Benatti's alleged sexual relationship with Weber.

"Marco was embarrassed and we tried to laugh it off. However, it was clear to me that he was also deeply hurt by these incorrect allegations.

"Given his close brotherly relationship with Daniela over the years, it was not very nice for him or Daniela to be linked in this way.

"The allegations made in the blog about Daniela Weber cheating on 'Don Martino' with 'the Italian partner' were absolutely false.

"Having worked with both Marco Benatti and Daniela Weber for many years, and having known them both very well almost every day, I can categorically say that to the very best of my knowledge they never had any sort of sexual relationship.

"Neither of them has ever suggested that there has been any such relationship, in fact they have both positively denied it."

Arbasino said that Sorrell had always been very kind to her and she had nothing against him. She added that his relationship with Ms Weber was "well known".

The defendants do not seek to justify the libels but deny that they were responsible for disseminating them or the privacy-infringing emails.

They say that if anyone in their workforce was responsible, it was wholly unauthorised and, in all the circumstances, are not liable.

Arbasino said that Weber had regarded her as a friend but their personal relationship had ended since Benatti's dismissal in January last year.

At work, Weber was very precise and could be exacting, even demanding, as the mood took her. On occasion she was abrupt.

She said that Weber attended all the meetings between Sorrell and Benatti except for one in October 2005 because she did not want to see Sir Martin as their relationship at that time was "very strained''.

Arbasino said that Benatti had helped Weber when she was down.

"Daniela Weber often complained to me that Sir Martin Sorrell was not present in her day-to-day life and that the person who was constantly present was Marco Benatti.''

In the last months of 2005, she added, due to the fact that Weber could count on the protection of Sir Martin, she expressed the aggressiveness and anxiety of a person who wanted to be recognised for their own valued and skills independently from Benatti.

Weber and Benatti were now involved in several legal actions against each other apart from the present litigation.

Arbasino said that many press articles about Sir Martin and Weber had referred to their "extra-marital affair'' but she did not believe that Benatti was the source.

Monica Mormina, a former WPP Italy employee, told the court that she found Weber "challenging'' to work for.

"I felt that she had a somewhat aggressive attitude and liked to exercise power.''

On her second day at WPP, in February 2005, there was "gossip'' in the office about the fact that Weber was with Sorrell.

"To expect people not to talk about a relationship between Daniela Weber, who was not particularly liked in the office, and one of the most powerful men in international media, is completely unrealistic.

"The impression people gave me was 'everybody knows'.''

She added: "In addition, I did not feel they took steps to keep the fact of the relationship private. It was generally known that they met publicly and holidayed together.

"I recall Daniela Weber took no steps to create the impression that she was holidaying elsewhere.

"My judgment was that she felt her position in the office was strengthened by her relationship with Martin Sorrell.''

Mormina, who was dismissed in January 2006, said that her dispute with Sorrell was not personal but contractual.

The hearing was adjourned until Monday.