A DRIVER caught leaving a Manchester fast food restaurant with cannabis-growing equipment in his car has been given a three-month curfew.

Daniel Curran had denied being concerned in the production of cannabis but was found guilty following a trial and appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

The court had heard how, on November 25, 2018 police saw Curran, of Cross Street, Bolton, with gear in his car and stopped him.

"You maintained your not guilty plea and were convicted," Recorder Kate Bex QC told 27-year-old Curran.

"There was some pretty strong evidence. You could have have saved yourself and everybody else a lot of bother if you had taken a more sensible approach to this."

Isobel Thomas, defending, said Curran still maintains he is not guilty but respects the jury's verdict and has found himself work as a scaffolder.

Curran was sentenced to a 12 month community order which includes 30 hours of unpaid work and an 8pm to 6am curfew for three months.

The growing equipment was forfeited and will be destroyed and Curran was ordered to pay £150 towards prosecution costs.

Recorder Bex told him: "I hope you manage to keep your job and you don't come back before this court. So good luck."