Jury out in 'drugs general' trial

A Nottingham Crown Court jury hearing the case of five people charged with drugs and money laundering offences has retired to consider its verdicts.

Gary Hardy, 46, from The Copse, Mansfield, has denied charges of supplying drugs and money laundering.

His brother Paul Hardy, 47 and his mother June Muers, 67 stand accused of supplying drugs.

They are charged, with Zoe Chapman, 29, of running a heroin and cocaine trade across parts of the East Midlands.

Carl Busby, 46, who is accused of money laundering, also denies the charges.

Drugs find

Defending Mr Hardy, Mr Burke said he was a "flamboyant, successful" property businessman, who was a victim of the "politics of envy".

He said his client was in the dock because people were jealous of his success.

During the trial, prosecutor Richard Latham QC, described Mr Hardy as a "drugs general", running the drugs business "at arm's length", employing a network of people to carry out his "dirty work".

The court also heard Gary Hardy ran several unsuccessful businesses yet continued to live a lavish lifestyle, putting his brother Paul, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, along with other associates, on the books to pay them for illegal drug activities.

Gary Hardy's mother June Muers, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield and his brother's former partner, Zoe Chapman, also from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, face charges over supplying drugs.

On the day all five defendants were arrested, 4 January 2007, police seized drugs with a street value of almost £70,000 and more than £16,000 in cash from June Muers' home.

Carl Busby, from Clipstone and described by the prosecution as Gary Hardy's cashier, is facing money laundering charges.