MILLIONS of pounds worth of cash was laundered through a dozen companies in a scam that saw a Swindon man rope in friends and family, it was alleged.

A Bristol Crown Court jury yesterday heard claims that millions was paid into bank accounts of 12 companies between December 2014 and September 2015. One drinks business, registered in the name of a 75-year-old grandmother who claimed to be using a non-existent back garden warehouse to store stock, alone saw £1.1m paid into its accounts over just eight months.

The man accused of having been at the centre of the money laundering ring, Gino Helvacioglu, was said to have roped in his grandmother, sister, mother and a number of friends.

Case opened

Opening the case against the seven men and two women yesterday, prosecutor Daniel Benjamin took the jury through thousands of WhatsApp messages exchanged by the group between February 21, 2015 and September 17, when cops swooped.

Those messages were said to show Helvacioglu ordering members of the gang to set up businesses and bank accounts, telling others to pick up hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash from London and instructing members of the gang to move cash between accounts.

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Bristol Crown Court

Messages exchanged

In one exchange between Helvacioglu and his sister, Hayriye Mazzotta, the 23-year-old is alleged to have told her to “cover your tracks”.

Mr Benjamin asked the jury: “If they didn’t know or suspect the monies to be criminal property, why would she need to cover her tracks?”

In a text exchange between Helvacioglu and Kristian King on March 1 about the latter setting up a business bank account, King said the pair would need to talk about what he should say in his meeting with bank managers: “We’ll have to talk about what I say and all that bulls*** because I look about 10. Won’t they get suspicious?”

Mr Benjamin presented another flurry of messages between Helvacioglu and co-defendant Joshua Pinsent, who asked on August 12 for a reminder of the main activity of his company – adding “what’s best to blag?” Helvacioglu replied: “Never explain [to bank managers] where all this money comes.”

“Surely, if Mr Pinsent was really going into business he would know what his business would do,” pondered Mr Benjamin.

“If the money is legitimate then Mr Helvacioglu has no suspicion about it – why shouldn’t its source be explained?”

Two days later, the urgency of the messages was said to have grown, as Santander closed business accounts linked to four of the defendants’ companies and Helvacioglu asked them to set up fresh firms. Helvacioglu was said to have provided documents to help fool bank managers.

'I've been arrested - so thanks'

In early September, Hayriye Mazzotta messaged her brother after her personal bank account was closed, telling him: “I never wanted to do any of this if it f***ed up my personal life.”

Her final WhatsApp message was sent to Helvacioglu on September 17: “Been arrested – so thanks.”

Messages suggested those involved in the alleged ring were paid one per cent commission on the huge sums passing through their business accounts. The source of the cash was not explained by Mr Benjamin.

Full list of defendants

Gino Helvacioglu, 23, of Plymouth Street, Kristian King, 25, of Baillie Close, Tadpole Garden Village, Celia Mazzotta, 75, of Shrivenham Road, Hayriye Mazzotta, 27, of Beckhampton Street, Vahit Oktar, 57, of Collett Avenue, Adam Phelps, 25, of Commercial Road, Joshua Pinsent, 26, of Rutland Road, Daniel Rice, 29, of Granica Close, and Daniel Ricketts, 27, of Marbeck Close, all deny money laundering.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.