The sum was paid into the bank account of Dale Arnold, who became a director of Apex windows in December 2000, in two separate payments.

Mr Arnold told Nottingham Crown Court how £30,000 had been paid into his account on 12th May 2003 followed by another £10,000 on 15th May at the request of Hardy.

He told the Jury: "Gary Hardy told me to put the money into my bank because he said he would have to pay hundreds of pounds in fees if he had paid the money into his accounts.

"I had no idea what his personal circumstances were, I did not question this at the time and just did as he said."

Bank statement evidence presented to the court by prosecutor Richard Latham showed the money was then withdrawn shortly after the cheques had cleared.

It is alleged Hardy was using the bank account to launder money earned from drugs transactions.

Gary Hardy, of The Copse, Mansfield, and his brother Paul Hardy (47), of Kirkby, deny one charge of conspiracy to supply heroin, one charge of conspiracy to supply cocaine, one charge of conspiracy to supply amphetamines and four counts of conspiracy to supply cannabis between 1st January 2000 and 5th January 2007.

The brothers' mum June Muers (66), of Pearl Avenue, Kirkby, also deny one charge of conspiracy to supply amphetamines and two charges of conspiracy to supply cannabis between 1st January 2003 and 5th January 2007.

Both Gary Hardy and Clipstone man Carl Busby (45), of Forest Road, also deny money laundering charges between 1st April 2003 and 4th January 2007.

Gary Hardy also denies a separate charge of having £14,000-worth of cash gained through criminal activities in his possession on 23rd May 2003.

Gary and Paul Hardy, of Willow Avenue, Kirkby, along with Muers, all deny a further charge of possessing criminal property on 4th January 2007.

Kirkby woman Zoe Chapman, of Willow Avenue - Paul Hardy's former partner - also faces three charges of conspiracy to supply amphetamines and cannabis between 1st January 2000 and 5th January 2007.