A TEENAGER who spent his birthday cash on 21 snap bags of cannabis was caught after police stopped the car he was travelling in.

Bolton magistrates heard how police spotted a car heading through a red light on September 11 last year and pulled it over

Ali Hayat, then aged 18, was a rear seat passenger in the vehicle.

Jade Coleman, prosecuting, told how, in his underwear, was a plastic bag containing the drugs.

Hayat, of Sandyhills, Great Lever, has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.

"Unfortunately, earlier that day, my client had bought some cannabis for his own personal use. He had bought a month's supply," said Isaac Mirza, defending.

"He doesn't really have a problem in relation to drug abuse but had spent some of his saved up birthday money on this substance."

He added that Hayat had hoped to keep his arrest secret from his family, but failed when police also searched his home.

"His little world collapsed," said Mr Mirza, who added that Hayat has now "buckled down" and is studying on a business course.

He was fined £80 by magistrates and ordered to pay £119 in costs and charges.

"I hope we don't see you back in court and it has been a salutary lesson, " magistrate Lindsay Charidemou told him.

A fellow passenger in the car, 22-year-old Mohammed Khan, of Roland Road, Bolton, also appeared in court and admitted possessing five snap bags of cannabis, which were recovered from the car's door pocket.

The part-time takeaway worker was fined £100, plus £30 for breaching a previously imposed suspended sentence and must also pay £119 in costs and charges.

In both cases the drugs were forfeited and destroyed.