Teenager's Hysterical Call to Mother After Alleged Bus Stop Assault by Athlete
A teenager who was allegedly sexually assaulted at a bus stop by a Somalian runner who trained with Olympic champion Mo Farah phoned her mother hysterically crying afterwards, Winchester Crown Court has heard. The young woman, aged 18 at the time, told her mother through tears, 'Don't shout at me,' before revealing she had just been molested, jurors were informed during the ongoing trial.
Details of the Alleged Attack in Bournemouth
Abdinasir Elmi, 26, from Somalia, is accused of dragging the teenager to Bournemouth Gardens in Dorset, where he allegedly attacked her on the evening of April 22 last year. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault and is on trial through a translator. Prosecuting barrister Oliver Hirsch claimed Elmi digitally penetrated the girl and touched her without her consent, alleging he had been 'watching' her and her friends before approaching when she was alone.
The incident occurred around 10:30 pm after the victim had been out with friends who had gone home. She was en route to another friend's house where she had organised to stay. Elmi is said to have walked up to her, offered to get her safely to the bus, put her in a headlock, forced her into the park, and assaulted her. The court was told Elmi was staying at the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth at the time, which is known to house asylum seekers.
Mother's Account and Impact on the Victim
In a written statement read out in court, the mother described falling asleep while waiting for a text from her daughter to confirm she was safely at her friend's house. She woke to her phone ringing with her daughter sounding hysterical and crying. 'She kept saying, "Don't have a go at me, don't shout at me,"' the mother recounted. She had previously warned her daughter about the dangers of going out in Bournemouth town centre, including the risk of being attacked or raped, but her daughter had responded that she would be fine as an 18-year-old adult.
After the alleged assault, the teenager managed to run off to find her boyfriend and his friends. Her mother called the police that evening and went to pick her up. Police Constable Kate Ementon testified that the girl struggled to speak about the incident and found it very upsetting, and she could not identify the man. The mother noted that her daughter has been deeply impacted, becoming more closed off, no longer going out as much, and avoiding Bournemouth for months afterwards.
Background of the Accused and Legal Proceedings
It is not known when Elmi entered the UK, but he has been training with Bournemouth Athletics Club since October 2024. He previously trained with British gold-medal Olympian Mo Farah back in Somalia, according to a report from the club. Elmi gave a no comment interview to police when first arrested in September last year, but Mr Hirsch stated that Elmi now claims the incident was consensual. The trial continues as the court examines the evidence and testimonies in this distressing case.
