Prosecutors claim convicted dealer Garth Blower called Hardy at 9.03pm on 29th April 2003 to confirm he had collected two kilos of heroin from a low level member of the gang during a secret meeting in a pub car park.

It is also alleged that Hardy was using a secret mobile phone ending in 072 to conduct the drugs deal throughout the afternoon.

Nottingham Crown Court was told how Blower, who had met Hardy at his home at 3pm, then passed the heroin on to fellow dealer Stephen Hutchinson for distribution across North Nottinghamshire.

Minutes later Hutchinson crashed his getaway car in a nearby field, allowing police to recover a mobile phone and the drugs stash.

Botched

The botched job led to a number of arrests and to long-term jail sentences for Blower, Hutchinson and a third dealer.

The court was also told how the movements of the 072 phone matched the movements of Gary Hardy on the day of the drugs deal.

Prosecutor Richard Latham told Hardy: "Garth Blower called you and at that moment in time he had just driven into the pub car park.

"One minute later he was leaving the car he had collected the heroin from.

"He then go back into his own car to hand the drugs over to Hutchinson. He was ringing you to confirm the deal had taken place.

"The phone 072 followed you around all day because you were using it as a secret drugs phone. You were at the scene of this deal and it is no coincidence."

'Coincidence'

But giving evidence, Hardy denied the allegations and told the court Blower had called him to discuss wages owed to him by Apex Windows.

Hardy said: "He called me to talk about the £200 he was owed and I sorted out a cheque for him.

"I did not have anything to do with any drugs deals and was not involved in any handover.

"I do not know who had the 072 phone, but it was not used by me and it must have just been a coincidence."

• 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