Two guilty of violent disorder after barber shop turf war brawl

Two men have been found guilty of affray for their part in a mass street brawl between rival barbers.

A jury trial at Newport Crown Court heard how a group from Kurd Barbers in Newbridge travelled to Blackwood High Street to take on rivals from Marmaris Barbers.

The clash followed the announcement that one of the Blackwood barbers would be opening a shop in Newbridge.

At around 2.45pm on Thursday February 13, Gwent Police were called to an ‘alleged disorder’ on Blackwood High Street, and ten minutes later were called to another incident on Newbridge High Street.

Around 16 people were involved in the fights with several injured.

Omed Pirot, 31 of High Street, Pentwynmawr, who was the barber wanting to open in Newbridge, and Shabab Husseini, 26, of Pontypool, were both found guilty of affray. A third man, Sardam Ebrahimi, 27, of Oakdale, was acquitted after he successfully argued he was trying to defend his friends.

Pirot suffered a fractured skull in the melee after being hit with a knuckleduster.

Five other men involved in the brawl had previously admitted affray, and they will be sentenced alongside Pirot and Husseini on April 10.