Pair face jail over terrifying mass brawl sparked by turf battle between rival Turkish barber outlets after being convicted of affray

Two men are now facing time behind bars after a ‘turf war’ between rival barber shops sparked a mass brawl in a market town.

Omed Pirot, 31, and Shahab Husseini, 25, were found guilty of affray after becoming embroiled in a fight in front of terrified bystanders, including children. 

Meanwhile, Sardam Ebrahimi, 27, was found not guilty of affray by the jury and was cleared of the charges. 

Staff from Kurds Barbers in Newbridge, Caerphilly, travelled to nearby Blackwood to confront employees at Marmaris Turkish barbers on February 13. 

The brawl began after Pirot of Marmaris Turkish Barbers announced he intended to open another store in Newbridge, Newport Crown Court heard. 

The announcement was ‘not received well’ by employees at Kurds Barbers, the court was told, with the melee of 13 leading to several being taken to hospital. 

Four cars were driven from Newbridge to Blackwood at around 2.30pm that day, parking up outside Absolutely Fabulous hairdressers, the prosecution said. 

‘The two factions then meet up on the street, and a large-scale fight erupts,’ Nuhu Gobir, prosecuting, told the court.  

Several 999 calls were made reporting that five people had been stabbed, with police officers heading to Marmaris Barbers. 

They spoke to five individuals who had visible injuries and had allegedly been involved in the mass brawl, the court heard. 

Omed Pirot, 31, and Shahab Husseini, 25, were found guilty of affray after becoming embroiled in a terrifying fight in front of terrified bystanders, including childre 

Pictured: Footage of the melee outside Marmaris Turkish in the market town of Blackwood

The brawl began after Pirot of Marmaris Turkish Barbers announced he intended to open another store in Newbridge, Newport Crown Court heard

CCTV footage showed several men punching and kicking each other on the pavement. Social media footage of the incident was also recovered, the court heard. 

A witness notified police by calling 999, informing them she had seen the ‘two factions’ brawling for around four minutes. 

Off-duty detective sergeant Kelly Whistance, who was at a nearby salon, told ‘frantic and scared’ staff to lock the doors and call police as the fight pressed against the windows.  

Following the brawl, several scissors were also discovered on the street by police. 

Husseini told police officers his friend had bought a shop in Newbridge and had problems with people threatening him. 

The 25-year-old said he had just finished with a customer when his boss went outside, and in the next moment, he looked over to see a mass brawl had erupted. 

Husseini denied stabbing anyone, adding that he acted in self-defence as he was ‘fearful for his friends’. 

Mr Gobir, prosecuting told the court Husseini was seen taking a weapon to an unknown male and making ‘overhead slashing movements’ towards him. 

Pirot was said to have been fighting with another man before being struck on the head and falling to the floor, the court heard.   

He then threw a punch towards another man and took part in ‘brawling’ across the street. 

Pirot was found to have sustained a fractured skull after being taken to hospital after the incident with a serious head injury. 

Ebrahimi, of Newport, Husseini, of Pontypool, and Pirot, of Caerphilly, told the court they were acting in self-defence.

Husseini and Pirot were found guilty of affray, while Ebrahimi was acquitted. Five other men from the rival shops have already admitted affray.

Husseini, Pirot, and the five other men are set to be sentenced on April 10.