Hamoud Al Soaimi

Hamoud Al Soaimi, now 21 and originally from Kuwait, was the youngest member of a gang that groomed and abused a 13-year-old girl in Newcastle between August 2018 and April 2019. At 15 years old during the offences, Al Soaimi followed the lead of the Badreddin brothers, sexually assaulting the victim after she had been raped by them, with a witness overhearing him say it was his 'turn'. The court also heard he sexually assaulted a separate 12-year-old girl, imitating the 'swagger' of the group leaders whom he admired.

Newcastle Crown Court details revealed that Al Soaimi, whose family moved to the UK in 2016, participated in the exploitation near the city centre and other locations, where the victim was manipulated with threats and grooming tactics. Judge Amanda Rippon explained that followers like Al Soaimi learned from the brothers that girls could be 'played with', disregarding the victim's age and vulnerability. The 13-year-old victim recounted being 'passed around' and abused despite attempts to befriend the men by learning their language and reading the Quran, leading to profound trauma that affected her education and family.

Barrister Joe Hedworth argued in mitigation that Al Soaimi was immature and easily led. On 1 March 2024, he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 180 hours of unpaid work for three counts of sexual assault and one assault by penetration. Unlike the others, he must register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a restraining order. This case, investigated by Northumbria Police and covered by the BBC, highlights the grooming and sexual exploitation within the group dynamic.