News Desk: Mahrah Al Nahyan, a 32-year-old member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling royal family through marriage, has admitted to child neglect after being found unconscious on a London street while a toddler was playing barefoot nearby. She has been sentenced to a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement and fined £6,114.
According to reports from the UK, the incident took place on June 13, when members of the public found Al Nahyan slumped on a street near an unconscious man. The toddler was reportedly unattended and close to moving traffic. Passers-by alerted the police and looked after the child until officers arrived.
The case was heard at Southwark Crown Court, where prosecutors described the circumstances surrounding the incident.
What happened on the street?
Prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour told the court that members of the public noticed the child without shoes, playing with a scooter near moving traffic. They intervened because of concerns for the toddler’s safety.
According to reports, witnesses said Al Nahyan behaved erratically and shouted after regaining consciousness. Police also found drug paraphernalia in her bags, although no illicit substances were recovered.
The court heard that Al Nahyan receives a monthly allowance of £8,000. She is currently undergoing treatment for drug addiction at the Priory centre in Woking, Surrey.
Defence explains her treatment plan
Her lawyer, Stephen Vullo KC, told the court that Al Nahyan had not taken drugs on the day of the incident. He said she had used cocaine earlier and was exhausted when the incident occurred.
According to her defence, she has abstained from drugs since entering the treatment facility and intends to complete a three-month rehabilitation programme. Her plans reportedly include renting a property in the Guildford area, continuing treatment as a day patient and attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
Her lawyer acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, saying she had made a grave mistake and understood the consequences.
Judge highlights risk to the child
Judge Mr Justice Johnson KC criticised Al Nahyan’s decision to leave the toddler unattended while she was reportedly under the influence of drugs.
The judge said the child could have been seriously injured near traffic, wandered away, become lost or been harmed by a stranger. He noted that members of the public had intervened to protect the toddler.
The sentence includes a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement and a financial penalty of £6,114.
The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of caregivers and the potential consequences of leaving a young child in a dangerous situation. The court’s sentence also incorporates rehabilitation as part of the response to the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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