Opening the case for the defence Trevor Burke told Nottingham Crown Court on Friday how prosecution evidence claiming Hardy was a viscious man who used violence to rule an Ashfield-based drugs empire was untrue.

Mr Burke, who opened the defence case following 28 days of prosecution evidence, also told the jury how prosecution witnesses –– including former Apex Windows staff members Dale Arnold and Malcolm Chapman –– could not be trusted.

"Both Arnold and Chapman left the Kirkby area, which the prosecution claims was because they were scared of Gary Hardy," he said..

"The truth is both of them have stolen from Gary Hardy. The thefts were then detected by him and neither suffered any assaults at the hands of Mr Hardy.

"He closed Apex down and both these witnesses suffered financial hardships, they both then left the area to escape their debts. A climate of fear simply did not exist."

Mr Burke also sought to discredit the evidence of another key witness who earlier told the trial how he had worked for Hardy as his gang's drugs factory manager.

The witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also described how he had mixed hundreds of thousands of amphetamines before hiding them and distributing across the Ashfield area.

But Mr Burke said: "The evidence you heard from this man was given so he can gain favour from the prison service.

"He had a parole hearing coming up and wanted to be in an attractive bargaining position so he could secure parole.

"Gary Hardy was a legitimate businessman who used his credit rating to great effect. He was flamboyant and drove a Ferrari around Kirkby. The culture of envy and greed kicked in and people just assumed he was a drugs dealer and this is not the case."

Gary Hardy will take to the dock to give evidence on Monday.

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