Somalian Runner Trained with Mo Farah Accused of Bus Stop Sexual Assault
A Somalian long-distance runner who has trained with Olympic champion Mo Farah stands accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old girl after allegedly watching her and waiting for her to be left alone at a bus stop in Bournemouth. Winchester Crown Court heard the disturbing details of the case, which prosecutors describe as a calculated targeting of a vulnerable teenager.
The Alleged Incident in Bournemouth Gardens
Abdinasir Elmi, 26, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault relating to an incident that occurred at approximately 10:30pm on April 22 last year in Bournemouth Gardens, Dorset. The court proceedings require a Somali interpreter for Elmi, who maintains his innocence despite the serious allegations.
Prosecutor Oliver Hirsch, opening the case, detailed how Elmi allegedly observed the teenager with friends in Bournemouth town centre before approaching her once she found herself alone waiting for a bus. The 18-year-old girl had been out with her boyfriend and a friend earlier that evening, but her boyfriend had returned home, and transportation plans fell through when her friend's mother arrived in a two-seater car unable to accommodate both girls.
CCTV Evidence and Prosecution Claims
CCTV footage presented to the court reportedly shows Elmi standing around and looking at the group of young people without engaging with them. "It was when [her friend] left in the car and [the alleged victim] was on her own that he approached her," Mr Hirsch told the court.
According to the prosecution, Elmi approached the girl as she waited for the bus, put his arms around her, and led her to a secluded bench in Bournemouth Gardens. There, he allegedly sexually assaulted her by non-consensually putting his fingers inside her vagina and touching her without consent. The teenager reportedly told police she managed to eventually kick him off and escape.
Changing Defense and Background Details
Elmi's defense has shifted during the proceedings. Initially denying the allegations entirely and claiming the incident never happened, he now asserts that any interaction was consensual. Court documents reveal he had been living in a migrant hotel in Bournemouth, though his current asylum status remains unclear.
The accused has been training with Bournemouth Athletics Club since October 2024 and, according to club sources, previously spent time training with elite athletes including four-time Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah and Belgian long-distance runner Bashir Abdi.
Prosecution's Characterization of Events
Mr Hirsch presented a troubling narrative to the court, suggesting Elmi had been walking around "aimlessly" and looking at other groups of young girls before the alleged attack. "Let me say that the prosecution says in all likeliness Mr Elmi set out that night to have sex with a young woman and did not much mind if she consented," the prosecutor stated.
The teenage victim reported the alleged assault around midnight that same night but was initially unable to identify her attacker as he was not known to her personally. The trial continues as both sides present their evidence in what has become a high-profile case involving connections to Britain's most celebrated distance runner.
