Prosecutors claim Busby paid £1.5m into the personal and business accounts of alleged drugs general Gary Hardy between 1st April 2003 and January 2007.

During a recorded police interview, which was read out during his ongoing trial at Nottingham Crown Court, Busby denied he had been involved in any criminal activity.

He told police: "Over that period of time that is not a lot of money with the amount of cars being sold and rent from homes. There were between 30 and 40 properties and the money is not a ridiculous amount.

"Any money that I paid into these accounts or my own account was legitimate money from business activities or wages. It is absolute rubbish to say the money was from the sale of drugs. I wouldn't get involved in anything like that."

The court was also told how Busby was given trusted access to Hardy's finances and knew the pin number for his bank accounts.

Prosecutors also revealed how sums of money were banked into Hardy's bank accounts, but no records of where the money came from were kept.

THE CHARGES
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), formerly of Pearl Avenue, Kirkby, also denies 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 partner –– also faces three charges of conspiracy to supply amphetamines and cannabis between 1st January 2000 and 5th January 2007.

Proceeding