Asylum seeker spared jail after being caught with medicine whereas operating from Bibby Stockholm | UK | News | EUROtoday

An asylum seeker who fled the Bibby Stockholm barge has prevented jail after being convicted of possessing medicine for a second time. Kenson Noel, 30, was handed a conditional discharge after admitting to hashish possession at Poole Magistrates’ Court in Dorset.

Noel, who arrived within the UK from Trinidad and Tobago claiming he was fleeing gangs, was positioned on the Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset, in May final 12 months. But when he arrived, he was discovered with 6.5g of hashish, a set of scales, plastic baggage, and £800 in money. As he was being arrested, he bit a Portland Port police officer on the elbow.

He was later convicted of possessing hashish however didn’t attend his sentencing listening to, prompting a warrant for his arrest. He was finally given a group service order, which he then breached by failing to indicate up for it.

Noel, now residing at a migrant lodge in Bournemouth, was arrested once more on June 5 after being discovered with hashish within the city.

Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, mentioned: “Police were dealing with something separate and the defendant was present at the scene. This led to him being spoken to and then arrested. During the arrest they found a small quantity of cannabis, entirely consistent with personal use.”

Megan McGhee, defending, mentioned: “He is an asylum seeker, from Trinidad and Tobago. He gets £8.50 a week and [is] provided with food. He is hoping to make an application to begin work but he has very limited means. I’m hoping his time in custody could be taken into account.”

District Judge Orla Austin dominated that it will not be value issuing a high-quality.

She informed Noel: “You receive £8 per week, given that it seems to me there is no point fining you as you lack the means to pay.”
She added: “It seems more money would be spent on enforcing it than could be recovered.”

The Bibby Stockholm barge, which arrived in Portland Port in July 2023, was used to accommodate as much as 500 asylum seekers whereas their claims had been processed.

The facility was shut down after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed its closure after Labour’s basic election victory.

The barge left Portland in January and has since exited the UK.