Violence between rival businesses spills onto busy high street in fight involving up to twenty-five men
TWO men have been found guilty of affray following a violent confrontation between rival barber shop groups that erupted into a large-scale street fight.
A jury at Newport Crown Court heard how a group connected to Kurd Barbers in Newbridge travelled to Blackwood to confront staff working at the rival Marmaris Barbers.
Three men stood trial over the incident: Sardam Ebrahimi, aged 27, from Newport; Shabab Husseini, aged 26, from Pontypool; and Omed Pirot, aged 31, from Caerphilly.
All three denied the charge, telling the court they had been acting in self-defence during the clash.
However, after hearing the evidence, jurors found Husseini and Pirot guilty of affray. Ebrahimi was cleared of the offence.
The court heard the dispute stemmed from tensions between the two businesses after Pirot announced plans to open another barber shop in Newbridge.
Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir told jurors the confrontation escalated into serious violence in the middle of the day.
He said there had been “absolutely no need” for those inside the Blackwood barber shop to come outside to confront the group, adding that the men “came out to have a fight and did so enthusiastically”.
The fight broke out on the pavement outside the shop before spilling across the high street, with CCTV footage showing up to twenty-five men involved in the melee.
Several people were injured during the brawl. One man required hospital treatment for serious injuries, while others suffered cuts and bruises. Another victim was left with a puncture wound in his back.
During the violence, Pirot himself was reportedly attacked with a knuckle duster and suffered a fractured skull.
A member of the public who witnessed the incident from a passing car called emergency services after seeing the men punching and kicking each other.
In a statement to police, the witness said the groups appeared intent on causing serious harm, describing how the men were hitting each other “very hard” during the confrontation.
She estimated the fight lasted around four minutes.
An off-duty detective sergeant who was in a nearby salon also witnessed the disturbance and warned staff to lock the doors while police were contacted.
The officer told the court workers inside the salon were frightened the fighting men might burst inside as they were pushed up against the window during the struggle.
Five other men connected to the incident had already admitted affray earlier in the case.
Judge Daniel Williams adjourned sentencing until Thursday, April 10, when the two men found guilty — along with the five who previously admitted the offence — will return to court.
