HARDY DRUGS TRIAL: I lent John Dawes 14k to buy caravan, Gary Hardy tells court
Published Date:
14 July 2008
ALLEGED drugs general Gary Hardy has told a court how he lent convicted drugs dealer John Dawes £14,000 to buy a caravan.
Prosecutors claim Hardy, who is a former pub bouncer in Mansfield, was spotted handing over the cash to Dawes to purchase drugs during an undercover police operation in 2003.
During the police surveillance, Dawes was allegedly spotted getting into Hardy's car before handing over the cash and exiting the car almost immediately.
Dawes was sentenced to 24 years in prison for distributing millions of Class A drugs across Ashfield during a trial in May 2005.
But giving evidence during the sixth week of his Nottingham Crown Court, trial Hardy said the cash had been a legitimate business loan.
Said Hardy: "John Dawes spent a lot of time in Skegness and was buying a caravan. The person he was buying a caravan from would not accept a cheque and he asked me for the money.
"This was a business loan and I had no doubt he would pay me back within one week."
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
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Last Updated:
14 July 2008 2:08 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Mansfield
