A Scottish bride-to-be suffered serious injuries just three weeks before her “dream” wedding when an uninsured asylum seeker ploughed into her car while attempting to flee police.
Nurse Clare Kehoe suffered a fractured pelvis and had to rely on strong painkillers and crutches as she tied the knot and got through the ceilidh on her big day. Nasir Al Soaimi, who has never passed a test, ploughed into her Volvo on April 1, 2024.
Her injuries meant she was unable to go into work for months and she missed out on her honeymoon in Paris. Clare also needs to attend physiotherapy to this day.
Al Soaimi, 19, who is from Kuwait claimed he did not know a licence and insurance were required for UK motorists. He has been jailed for 28 months, with a two year road ban after release and may now face deportation.
He had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and having no insurance. Newcastle Crown Court heard Al Soaimi’s black Citroen had caught the attention of the police on the city’s Coast Road that evening and checks revealed it was not insured.
Officers indicated for the vehicle to stop but Al Soaimi continued to Jesmond Road and onto Claremont Road, where he travelled at 58mph on the 30mph stretch and smashed into the passenger side of the nurse’s car, as she pulled out from a side street, on April 1 last year.
The court heard a passenger in Al Soaimi’s vehicle ran off while Miss Kehoe was cut from her car by the emergency services. Clare, who is originally from Scotland but now lives in the North East of England, was taken to the nearby Royal Victoria Infirmary and diagnosed with fractures to her pelvis and spine.
In an impact statement made 17 weeks after the crash, the nurse said she had been unable to return to work as a result of her injuries, which also stopped her visiting vulnerable relatives, including her mum in Scotland. She said the Volvo car she was driving, which was written-off in the crash, had been given to her by a late relative and had huge sentimental value.
She added: “The accident happened three weeks before I was due to get married. I did get married but this impacted massively on my dream day. I had to rely on strong painkillers and crutches, including for the dance on the evening and reception.
“Being Scottish, we had a ceilidh but my injuries restricted my movement on the day. I couldn’t greet guests.”
She added that her enjoyment of looking back at pictures of her special day has been impacted and said: “We were due to go on honeymoon to Paris, this didn’t happen due to my restricted mobility. As a result of not going we lost quite a bit of money.
“This definitely wasn’t the wedding or honeymoon I had dreamed of.”
Mr Recorder Anthony Dunne told Al Soaimi: “On that night, on April 1 last year, you had no right to be driving a car, you had no licence, you had no training and you had no insurance. Nontheless, you had, at some stage before April 1, bought yourself a car you were driving on that evening.
“You have said to the author of the pre-sentence report you did not know you needed a licence or insurance. I have to say, that doesn’t help you.”
The recorder added: “It is difficult to believe, having seen the footage and sheer suddenness of the impact, that no-one was killed.”
Recorder Dunne said the prison sentence imposed could affect Al Soaimi’s immigration status as the Secretary of State considers deportation of all criminals who receive more than 12 months behind bars. Rachel Hedworth, defending, said Al Soaimi, now of Jenkin Road, Sheffield, was born and lived in Kuwait until he moved to the UK in around 2016, when he was aged 10 or 11.
He initially lived in Leeds then moved to Newcastle, where he studied engineering and business at college. The court heard Al Soaimi suffered bleeding on the brain, a broken arm, seven broken ribs and significant fractures to his right leg in the smash and has had three operations so far.
Miss Hedworth added: “He has no previous convictions. He is completely and utterly remorseful.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.