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| Leazes Park sex attack accused Syrian men cleared | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three Syrian men have been cleared of sexually assaulting two schoolgirls in a park. | |
| Mohammed Alfrouh, 20, Omar Badreddin, 18, and Mohammed Allakkoud, 18, of Newcastle, were cleared of all charges at Newcastle Crown Court. | Mohammed Alfrouh, 20, Omar Badreddin, 18, and Mohammed Allakkoud, 18, of Newcastle, were cleared of all charges at Newcastle Crown Court. |
| Mr Badreddin was cleared of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in Leazes Park, Newcastle, in May. | Mr Badreddin was cleared of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in Leazes Park, Newcastle, in May. |
| Mr Alfrouh was cleared of three counts of sexual assault and Mr Allakkoud of a single charge of sexual assault. | |
| 'Inconsistencies in evidence' | |
| Mr Alfrouh was accused of kissing one girl in the park on two consecutive nights, and of also molesting a girl Mr Badreddin was accused of kissing behind a pavilion. | |
| The 18-year-old insisted he did not know she was 14. | |
| Mr Allakkuod was accused by one of the girls of holding her mouth and nose while she was attacked. | |
| During the two-week trial defence barristers applied for the case to be thrown out, but it can now be reported. | |
| They said that there were inconsistencies in the complainants' evidence to police, to the court and in cross-examination. | |
| 'Free country' | |
| The three Syrians who came to the UK after fleeing the civil war wept in the dock after they were cleared. | |
| Mr Badreddin came to the UK from Jordan as part of a commitment by former Prime Minister David Cameron to allow 20,000 Syrian refugees to live in Britain. | |
| His family were being filmed by a BBC Newsnight team when the events unfolded. His older brother died in Syria and he left school at 14 to provide for his family. | |
| Outside court a spokesman for the defendants said: "They came from Syria to live in peace - no trouble. | |
| "They believe the judge is fair. This is a free country, it is not like Syria." | |
| Ch Insp Steve Ammari said: "We thank the complainants for their support and help throughout." |