An asylum seeker who tried to take cannabis onto the Bibby Stockholm barge when he arrived at Portland bit a police officer when he was arrested, a court heard.

Kenson Noel, aged 29, pleaded guilty at Weymouth Magistrates Court yesterday to possession of a class B drug and assault by beating of Portland Port Police officer Christopher Grant.

His address in court was given as the Bibby Stockholm barge, but magistrates heard he has since been moved to a hotel in Bournemouth.

The charges relate to an incident on May 16, 2024, when Noel had 6.5g of cannabis in his possession.

READ MORE: Man arrested after 'police officer assaulted at Portland Port'

The court heard Noel is an asylum seeker who fled Trinidad and Tobago after being threatened by gangs.

Magistrates were told the defendant thought the amount of cannabis he had was lawful as having a small amount is permitted in his home country.

Christina Norgan, prosecuting, said: “The defendant arrived as a new resident of the Bibby Stockholm barge.

“He made staff aware that he had cannabis on him and was told he would not be allowed to take it onto the barge.

“A staff member called Portland Port Police to assist.

“They took him to a cabin and searched him, they found the cannabis alongside scales, bags and large quantities of cash - £800 was found.

“During the search, he was arrested and had to be restrained.

“He bit the victim on his left elbow, broke the skin and caused it to bleed.

“He was then arrested for assaulting an emergency worker.

“In interview, he admitted the cannabis was for his own personal use.

“He has no previous convictions and is of previous good character.”

Ian Brazier, mitigating, said: “The money is irrelevant because police gave it back to him, it was from his family in Trinidad.

“In many Caribbean countries, possession of a limited amount of cannabis is legal, up to 28g. It was not understood by him that this amount of cannabis was illegal in this country.

“He finds it helps with his anxiety and helps to calm him down.

“He was honest and open about the fact that he had cannabis. However, how can it be that a man who is being fully co-operative ends up biting a police officer?

“The officer conducted a search, the defendant said he had cannabis in his bag. When the officer goes to look in the bag, Noel puts his hand into the bag, his hand is grabbed and he is put in handcuffs.

“He complained about the tightness of the handcuffs and was being restrained.

“This is a man in handcuffs, a warrant for cannabis does not require handcuffs. He was cornered, handcuffed, anxious.

“It feels a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut."

Paul Rose, chair of the bench, inquired why the defendant had scales and was told he uses them to check how much he has bought.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports. 

Noel was granted unconditional bail and will appear at Poole Magistrates Court on July 15.