Shoppers watched on stunned while staff locked themselves in their shops and called the police
Two men have been found guilty of affray following a mass brawl between rival barber shops on a busy high street, while a third man was cleared.
Omed Pirot, 31, and Shahab Husseini, 25, have been found guilty of affray when they were involved in an incident of violent disorder between two barber shops, Marmaris Barbers in Blackwood and Kurds Barbers in Newbridge, while Sardam Ebrahimi, 27, was found not guilty of affray by the jury at Newport Crown Court.
The trial heard how Pirot and Husseni took part in the melee along with 13 others in Blackwood High Street in front of innocent bystanders including children. Staff from Kurds Barbers in Newbridge, Caerphilly borough, had travelled to nearby Blackwood to confront employees of Marmaris Barbers.
Newport Crown Court heard that the brawl started after Pirot, from Marmaris Barbers, announced he was planning on opening a new shop in Newbridge. The news was “not received well” by staff at Kurds Barbers, the court heard.
At around 2.30pm on February 13 last year four cars were driven from Newbridge to Blackwood and pulled up outside Absolutely Fabulous hairdressers on High Street, prosecutor Nuhu Gobir told the court. “The two factions then meet up on the street and a large scale fight erupts,” he said.
After multiple 999 calls were made and reports that “five people had been stabbed”, police officers attended Marmaris Barbers and spoke to five people allegedly involved in the incident, three of which had visible injuries.
CCTV footage was obtained from Blackwood High Street as well as footage filmed by witnesses and posted on social media. Several pairs of scissors were also retrieved from the street.
Sardam Ebrahimi, 27, of Newport, Shabab Husseini, 26, of Pontypool, and Omed Pirot, 31, of Caerphilly, told the court they were acting in self-defence.
Pirot, represented in court by his barrister Harry Baker, was taken to hospital after the incident with a serious head injury and was found to have suffered a fractured skull.
Husseini told police officers his friend had bought a shop in Newbridge and had problems with people threatening him. He said he had just finished with a customer when his boss walked outside and when he next looked a brawl was taking place. The defendant said he was “fearful for his friends” and his actions were in self defence. He denied stabbing anyone.
On Thursday the jury found Husseini and Pirot guilty of affray, while Ebrahimi was acquitted. Five other men from the rival shops have already admitted affray.
CCTV footage showed multiple men punching and kicking each other on the pavement. The court heard how a witness driving past called 999, saying she saw the groups striking each other for about four minutes.
Off-duty detective sergeant Kelly Whistance, who was nearby at the salon Absolutely Fabulous, told staff to lock the doors and call the police, describing the salon staff as “frantic and scared” as the fight pressed against the windows.
Identifying the defendants’ involvement in the brawl, Mr Gobir said Husseini, represented in court by Kevin Seal, was seen taking a weapon to an unknown male and making “overhead slashing movements” at him.
Pirot was said to have been involved in fighting with another man before being hit to the head and falling to the floor. It was then said he threw a punch towards another man and took part in “brawling” across the street.
Judge Daniel Williams will sentence Husseini, Pirot, and the five other men who admitted affray on April 10.
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