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  "path": "/news/bournemouth-somali-asylum-seeker-mo-farah-not-guilty-sexual-assault",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-13T23:29:12.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Primrose Hill murder suspect tells judge 'you have the wrong man' in extraordinary court outburst",
    "Several injured after stolen Mercedes crashes into pedicab in central London following police chase",
    "Jockey admits to killing pensioner who was shoved to ground and beaten to death during pub brawl",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA Somali asylum seeker who once allegedly trained alongside Olympic champion Mo Farah has been cleared of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.\n\nAbdinasir Elmi, 26, a long-distance runner, faced two counts of sexual assault against an 18-year-old woman.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA jury at Winchester Crown Court returned not guilty verdicts on both charges after just over seven hours of deliberation.\n\nMr Elmi maintained throughout the trial that the encounter was consensual, telling the court the young woman had kissed him first and that he had simply reciprocated.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nProsecutors alleged the incident took place at around 10.30pm on April 22 last year in Bournemouth Gardens, Dorset.\n\nAt the time, the 26-year-old was being housed at the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth.\n\nThe athlete, who can complete 5km in under 15 minutes, had been preparing for a 10km cross-country race the following day.\n\nHe told the court he had been out for an evening walk when he met the woman.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe 18-year-old had been in Bournemouth town centre with her boyfriend and a female friend earlier that evening.\n\nAfter her boyfriend left, she had planned to get a lift from her friend’s mother.\n\nHowever, the mother arrived in a two-seater car, leaving no room for both women.\n\nThe friend recognised Mr Elmi as she left with her mother, while the 18-year-old asked him to wait as she said goodbye.\n\n### CRIME - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * Primrose Hill murder suspect tells judge 'you have the wrong man' in extraordinary court outburst\n  * Several injured after stolen Mercedes crashes into pedicab in central London following police chase\n  * Jockey admits to killing pensioner who was shoved to ground and beaten to death during pub brawl\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe court heard the pair then walked towards a bus stop before the young woman suggested going to Bournemouth Gardens.\n\nHe told the court they were sitting “very close” together on a bench when she received a call from her boyfriend.\n\nAfter the call, she kissed him and he kissed her back, jurors were told.\n\nShe then left to meet her boyfriend at the bus station, while Mr Elmi returned to his hotel.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Somali national confirmed he is seeking asylum in the UK after leaving the East African country in pursuit of a “normal life”.\n\nIt is unclear when he arrived in Britain, though he has been a member of Bournemouth Athletics Club since October 2024.\n\nThe training club claimed that, back in his home country, he trained alongside world-class athletes - from British Olympian Sir Mo Farah to Belgian runner Bashir Abdi.\n\nFollowing the verdict, Judge Paul Dugdale told him: “You have been found not guilty by this jury, so you can be taken downstairs, processed, and you should be released, alright?\n\n\"Thank you very much, we won't delay you any longer.”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Somali asylum seeker who ‘trained with Mo Farah’ is found not guilty of sexually assaulting woman in Bournemouth park"
}