Liverpool takeaway owner jailed for child sexual assault

A takeaway owner collapsed to the floor as he was jailed after being unmasked as a predatory sex offender. Abdulrahman Al-Nomire "presented a wholesome face to the outside world", including being the founder of several community initiatives for kids and families.However, underlying this facade was a disturbing past, as he had subjected a girl to years of sexual abuse starting when she was as young as five. During the sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that the 41-year-old of Wavertree Road, had committed acts of sexual assault involving acts described as "simulated intercourse". The court heard that these assaults went on for approximately three years, leaving the victim feeling "uncomfortable and scared". Prosecutor Ken Grant explained that the victim later confided in her cousin, which led to her mother discovering the abuse, and initially, Al-Nomire suggested the allegations were false because her "food orders from the takeaways which he owned had stopped".Despite his attempts to defend his character, claiming to be a supporter of community and youth initiatives and a successful businessman, Al-Nomire was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault. The court took into account that he had no prior convictions and was a supporter of various community causes, including football and chess initiatives within the Yemeni community in Liverpool.At the hearing, he was shown to be emotional, crying uncontrollably when informed that he would have to sign the sex offenders' register for life, and a restraining order along with a sexual harm prevention order would be imposed for ten years. His emotional response escalated when he fell off his chair during the proceedings and continued crying on the floor of the video link booth. He was subsequently sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, with a requirement that he serve at least two thirds of the sentence before being eligible for release, and an additional four years on licence. Judge Brian Cummings KC highlighted that "these were not momentary acts of touching, but acts which lasted several minutes". The judge also stated that "these offences had serious emotional and psychological consequences for her", and noted his concern about Al-Nomire’s attitude as he continued to deny the offences and lacked victim empathy. The court expressed that it was no comfort that he was a man who presented a very different, more wholesome face to the outside world, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes.