The ongoing effects of a traumatic injury led to a man becoming aggressive towards customs officers and the senior magistrate, a court was told.

Michael Benjamin, 40, appeared in Magistrates’ Court for sentencing yesterday, after admitting on May 31 to two counts of obstructing customs officers.

At the earlier court appearance, senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson heard that Benjamin, who lives in Angola, appeared intoxicated and became belligerent when he was selected for an additional inspection at the LF Wade International Airport on March 26.

He verbally abused customs officers during the process, tried to snatch his passport from their hands and refused to have his pockets searched.

Ms Anderson planned to fine Benjamin for the offences last week, but remanded him into custody after he asked her if she was “on something”.

During yesterday’s appearance, Charles Richardson, Benjamin’s lawyer, said that his client’s behaviour both at the airport and in court was the result of a traumatic injury that he is still being treated for and gave the court a medical report as evidence.

Ms Anderson sentenced Benjamin for time already served in prison for the offences.

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