Mrs Prest said Mr Marsden “took delight in seeing the flowers grow and he was lovely to work with because of his interest”.
She told the court she would pay him from her personal account either with a cheque or bank transfer.
The court heard she was given an allowance by her husband to run the house, which would include wages for the gardeners.
Mrs Prest said she never drove the quad bike. She said Mr Marsden had been using a “knapsack spray” and would walk back and fore to refill it but she thought it would be easier to use the ATV.
Mrs Prest said she never drove the quad bike, and told the court that “it would be like teaching granny to suck eggs” if she advised him how to use the bike.
Mr Prest, who had a career in the defence electronics industry after working in Ministry of Defence procurement, said: “We were deeply shocked. Traumatised is an overused word, but it was a ghastly experience.”
The jury had been told that Mrs Prest was a former professional ballet dancer and was a member of the English National Ballet until an injury ended her career.
The couple moved from London and bought Pilstone House in 2006. Mrs Prest described it as a convenient home because her two daughters were in university in Cardiff and her son was studying at Bristol University.
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