Mo Farah’s brother returns to prison despite vowing to turn his life around after spending time in jail following London riots

Omar's lifestyle is a world away from his older brother's, who became a national hero after winning both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Olympic Stadium

Daily Mail
Sunday, June 30, 2013

The brother of Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah is back in jail just months after vowing to turn his life around.

The brother of Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah, Omar, is back in jail just months after vowing to turn his life around

Omar Farah, 20, was brought before magistrates for re-sentencing after breaching a 16-week suspended sentence for burglary, criminal damage, assault and theft.

The regular cannabis user was jailed in April.

It comes two years after he spent time in jail following the London 2012 riots.

Yet in January, Omar vowed to transform his life and train as a graphic designer.

Speaking then, he said: 'I lead a completely different life to Mo but the experience of being in the young offenders' unit made me never want to go back.

'I don't ever want to be put in that position again.

'Mo's success has inspired me to do something with my life. I don't want to doss around and get in trouble with the police.'

But in April, it was reported that Omar was a 'neighbour from hell'.

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One local who lives in the same West London tower block said: 'When he is here for a few days it is a mess. People congregate on the stairwell, smoking and drinking. They make lots of noise.'

Omar’s lifestyle is a world away from his older brother’s, who became a national hero after winning both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford – not far from some of the worst scenes of the riots in East London.

Despite their vastly different fates, Mo, 29, gave his brother his full support and is helping him turn his life around.

Omar was even at the stadium to see his brother storm to victory in the 10,000m final.

But he was caught up in the riots of August 2011 – when cities across the country erupted into violence and mass looting – and was arrested for using or threatening violence to others near Brentford, West London.

He was charged and remanded in custody at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution after appearing before magistrates.

Mo gave his brother his full support, but they agreed they should keep their relationship secret for Omar’s safety.

Recalling the riots, Omar said: ‘I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

‘I got caught up in Brentford and the police grabbed us because we were running. They thought because we were running we must have done something wrong.

‘It was scary inside Feltham. I was worried about what would happen if they knew who my brother was.

‘I told him I was innocent and he said he’d stick by me.

‘He gave me a little talk when I got put in remand and he said, “If you actually did do it, just ride your time, get out, and just change your life”.

‘I made sure I kept my head down and listened to my brother’s advice.’

The charges were dropped and he was released after four weeks. But he then found himself homeless and penniless and was forced to live in a hostel.

Omar was born in 1992, a year after his father Mukhtar fled war-torn Somalia with Mo, and met his mother Fosiya Mohamed after settling in London.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'We do not comment on individuals.'

Mo told The Daily Star: 'I’m sorry to hear of the problems Omar is having. We never had a relationship and have always led different lives.

'I have not had contact with him for over ten years.'

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