Rival Turkish barber shop workers who swung scissors and spanners at each other in a huge ‘turf war’ brawl on a busy high street in Wales have been spared jail.
Witnesses described a ‘very violent gang fight’ after workers from the Kurds Barbers in Newbridge, Caerphilly, travelled to nearby Blackwood to confront workers at the town’s Marmaris Turkish barbers on February 13.
Marmaris barber Omed Pirot, 31, was planning to open another shop in Newbridge which was ‘not well received’ by staff at Kurds.
Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said women having their own hair done in a neighbouring salon screamed as the men fought up against their shop window.
An off-duty detective was having her hair washed at the Absolutely Fabulous salon and told hairdressers to lock the doors and dial 999.
Thirteen men were involved in the shocking brawl which saw four hospitalised, including one who was treated for stab wounds, though none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, police said at the time.
Officers recovered several pairs of scissors and other makeshift weapons from the scene.
Mr Gobir said: ‘This case involved a large-scale disturbance in Blackwood town centre on a busy Thursday afternoon during which weapons were used.
‘The violence seems to have stemmed from a feud between two barbers shops – those being Marmaris on the high street in Blackwood and Kurds Barbers 2.7 miles away in Newbridge.’
Footage of the brawl which showed the men fighting in the street, some armed with weapons, was shared on social media.
Cardiff Crown Court heard a number of people were injured, including one who suffered a stab wound that required stitches.
Mr Gobir said three cars were driven from Newbridge to Blackwood and parked up on the high street when violence started in the middle of the afternoon.
Mr Gobir said: ‘The two factions then meet up on the street and a large-scale fight erupts.’
Witnesses described ‘two gangs fighting one another’ with weapons including spanners and scissors.
Omed Pirot, and Shahab Husseini, 25, denied violent disorder and affray but were found guilty after a three day trial.
Sardam Ebrahimi, 28, was cleared of the same offences.
Bryar Muradi, 28, Alan Karimi, 31, Adnan Mohamad, 30, Bave Hamed, 31, and Krmani Sadiq, 30, all admitted affray.
Judge Daniel Williams said: ‘The violence stemmed from a feud between two barbers shops. One in Newbridge and one in Blackwood.
‘Whatever its origin, there was no justification on either side for what happened.’
The judge said that after the two factions met up ‘a disgraceful scene of public violence then took place – a pitched battle in the middle of the high street where members of the public, including children, were going about their daily business’.
Pirot and Husseini were given 18-month suspended sentences, ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and pay £600 costs.
The remaining defendants were given 15-month suspended sentences, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £400 costs.
Speaking at the time, Gwent Police said: ‘We’re investigating two reports of violent disorder on Thursday 13 February, after officers were called to High Street, Blackwood, at around 2.45pm and High Street, Newbridge, at around 2.55pm.
‘Four men were taken to hospital for treatment; three of them were later discharged while one remains receiving treatment.
‘None of their injuries sustained by those involved in the disorder are believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.’
