Harrower tries to buy his truck back
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John Harrower, who served 20 months in
a French prison on drugs charges that were later quashed, has offered the French authorities £4,000 to buy back his truck to begin a new UK-only haulage service.
The Oldham-based driver has ruled out Continental work after his spell in Bayonne Prison for being found with drugs in his load of beetroot.
"The truck is worth around £18,000 but I will only be able to raise £4,000 to buy it back," says Harrower, who is hoping to raise the money through a series of drivers' collections.
The Volvo F16 Globetrotter, which was impounded when Harrower was arrested, is thought to be in good condition because staff from the Bayonne compound starred it once a month throughout his jail term. It was also garaged.
The negotiations to bring the vehicle home follow Harrower's release last month when the court quashed his criminal convictions of drug smuggling. He has to pay to get his truck back because a civil conviction of possessing drugs remains. He has always maintained his innocence because he was not there when his trailer was loaded.
Meanwhile, Harrower, who has been helped by the United Road Transport Union, has received at least one job offer and another interview.