Giving evidence during his trial, he denied prosecutors claims that he threatened Dale Arnold –– a close friend and manager of his Apex Window firm –– into delivering and hiding drugs money on his behalf.

Prosecutors also claim Arnold had spotted large sums of money being delivered to Apex Windows from drugs dealers.

But Hardy, who is a keen boxing fan, told the jury he had kept a close eye on Arnold for business-related reasons.

"Arnold had a big drugs problem and I did not want this to ruin the business," Hardy told the court. "I did not want him to go partying in front of other employees when he was in that state. I warned him about this and then he stopped socialising with me.

"In 2003, I was calling him to check up on him because Apex had lost lucrative sales because he was not answering his phone.

"I felt I had to keep an eye on him because Apex could have been very successful in the right hands.

"I also tried to stop him using drugs and pointed out to him that he was the manager of a major company. I tired to give him other things to focus on."

Hardy, who was a director of Kirkby boxing promoters John Ashton Promotions, also denied prosecution claims that he had threatened Arnold with violence after it was discovered that Arnold had stolen from the business.

Dale Arnold left the Ashfield area shortly after the collapse of Apex in February 2004.

Hardy told the court: "I saw him as a good friend and never threatened him with violence. When he left the area he was trying to escape debt and not me. We were on good terms when he left and there is no bad blood between us.

"Dale tried to be like me, he dressed like me and he wanted my lifestyle of fast cars. After he stole from me I had no confidence in him and I closed the firm down."

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