Barber Shop Brawl Leads to Suspended Jail Terms
Seven men involved in a daytime altercation to resolve a dispute between barber shops have been handed suspended prison sentences.
At Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that in February 2025, three vehicles carrying men associated with Kurd Barbers in Newbridge, Caerphilly, traveled to Blackwood to confront the proprietors of Marmaris barbers. The Kurd Barbers group suspected Marmaris of planning to open a competing shop in their area.
The confrontation escalated into a violent fight inside the Marmaris barbershop, eventually spilling onto the street and causing traffic to halt. During the incident, one individual sustained a fractured skull.
Witnesses, including customers and staff at a nearby hairdressing salon, described the scene around 14:30 GMT as chaotic and frightening, with the combatants smashing against the salon's window.
CCTV footage presented at the sentencing hearing depicted two men wielding weapons and one man being repeatedly punched while on the ground.
Nuhu Gobir, prosecuting, stated that an off-duty police officer present in the hairdressers nearby observed staff members as "frantic and scared that the males were going to get in," as they were pressed against the salon window.
"This was affray committed in broad daylight in the high street of Blackwood. The violence stemmed from a feud between two barber shops."
The officer advised the staff to lock the door and contact emergency services.
Following reports that five men had been stabbed in Blackwood, police located three bloodied men at Marmaris barbers. Bryar Muradi, 30, Baved Hamed, 30, and Shahab Husseini, 25, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
A fourth man connected to the Blackwood barbers, Omed Pirot, 31, was arrested after receiving hospital treatment for fractures to his forehead and eye socket.
Three additional men, Alan Karimi, 31, Adnan Mohamad, 30, and Sadiq Krmani, 30, were apprehended at Kurd Barbers in Newbridge. All three wore blood-stained clothing and had puncture wounds on their backs.
Judge Condemns Public Violence
Judge Daniel Williams characterized the incident as a "disgraceful scene of public violence" affecting many individuals.
"It was a pitch battle where members of the public, including children, were going about their business, and staff in local businesses were terrified."
He emphasized the severity of the affray occurring in broad daylight on Blackwood's high street, noting the conflict originated from a rivalry between two barber shops.
Muradi, Karimi, Mohamad, Hamed, and Krmani had previously pleaded guilty to affray and received 15-month prison sentences suspended for 18 months on Friday.
Pirot and Husseini, found guilty of affray following a trial last month, were each sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 18 months.
"Each of you played a different role but I don't distinguish between you because you all attached yourself to a scene of disorder, and it was your collective violence which put fear into others."
Judge Williams addressed the seven men, highlighting their collective responsibility for the disorder and the fear it instilled in the community.
