A BRIGHOUSE man accused of conspiracy to defraud ex-pat investors over a multi-million pound ''Ponzi'' scheme is to stand trial in June. 

John Neil Hirst, who also faces money-laundering allegations, was charged last year following a 15-month investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. 

Hirst, 60, of Millroyd Mill, Huddersfield Road, and 69-year-old Richard Pollett, from Poole, Dorset, are alleged to have defrauded investors by dishonestly representing that their money would be guaranteed and secured and invested on the Dow Jones Index futures market. 

The defendants are also alleged to have dishonestly represented that the investments would achieve a minimum return of 1.5% per month, equating to 18% per annum, with a bonus of 2% if invested for a year. 

The conspiracy charge covers a period between December 2001 and December 2009 and the pair also a further allegation of making misleading statements over the same period. 

Hirst and Pollett denied both charges when they appeared before Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC at Bradford Crown Court today.

Hirst also pleaded not guilty to allegations of money-laundering relating to the transfer of £33,000 from the Bank of Cyprus account of Gilher Inc and an £428,000 investment in Last Second Tickets Limited.

Hirst's wife Linda, 62, of Pyrford, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to various money-laundering charges including one relating to the purchase of a £552,000 house with her daughter Zoe Waite, 36, in Sandy Lane, Send, Surrey, in 2008. 

Waite, of Sandy Lane, also denies the money-laundering allegation. 

Daniel James Hirst, 35, of March Lane, Leeds, pleaded not guilty to three money-laundering charges. 

The SFO investigation was conducted with the assistance of West Yorkshire Police and a number of overseas authorities. 

It centred on British nationals living on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca as well as investors in France and the USA. 

It is understood that more than £10m pounds was obtained from investors. The losses are believed to be around £6m. 

The SFO investigation began in November 2009 following complaints from investors and involved John Hirst’s Panama and Seychelles-registered company Gilher Inc. 

Hirst returned to the United Kingdom in 2009 suffering from ill-health, 

During a lengthy plea and case management hearing today Judge Durham Hall confirmed that a trial date had been fixed for June 18 and it was estimated to last up to eight weeks. 

All five defendants were granted bail until a further pre-trial hearing which is expected to take place on April 20.