Yesterday (15 August), Southwark Crown Court heard that the alleged fraud involved under-declared mail involving “tonnes of mail”.

The company said to be at the centre of the scam was Aylesbury-based Packpost International Ltd, owned by Narinder Sandhu.

Narinder Sandhu was described as the “architect” of the scheme, and prosecutors told the jury he had already pleaded guilty.

His brother Parmjeet Sandhu, 56, and his nephew Balginder Sandhu, 46, have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation from 2008-2017.

A third man Lakhwinder Sekhon, 42, – who is not a family relation – has also been charged with the same offence.

Parmjeet Sandhu is director and owner of Tiger International Logistics Ltd and Worldwide Transport Express Ltd, based in Slough.

Balginder Sandhu is the owner of Global Express Worldwide Ltd, also based in Slough.

Sekhon is alleged to have helped Narinder Sandhu invest profits from the fraud in properties.

Prosecutor Ellis Sareen told the court that the alleged fraud began in 2005 and continued until 2017, when investigators from Royal Mail found discrepancies.

The scam was said to have involved manipulating docket spreadsheets on the self-declaration system used by large mailing firms.

The three men have denied the charges.

The trial continues.