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Mahrah Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, received a community order and fine after admitting to child neglect. She was found unconscious in London with a toddler nearby.
Mahrah Al Nahyan, a 32-year-old member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, has been sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after admitting to one charge of child neglect. The incident occurred in June when Al Nahyan was found unconscious on a street in west London while a three-year-old child she was looking after played nearby.
According to court proceedings reported by multiple outlets, passersby noticed the child was unattended, barefoot, and in close proximity to moving traffic. Members of the public intervened to care for the child while waiting for emergency services. Al Nahyan was found slumped against railings next to an unconscious man.
Prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour stated that Al Nahyan remained unresponsive for approximately 30 minutes. When she regained consciousness, witnesses reported she said, "This is not a slaughterhouse; why do you care so much? Why are you so worried?"
Police searched Al Nahyan and found drug paraphernalia but no illicit substances on her person. The court heard that she had been using cocaine in the days leading up to the incident.
Al Nahyan, who is part of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi through marriage, pleaded guilty to child neglect. Her defense attorney, Stephen Vullo KC, stated that she had not taken drugs on the day of the offense but was exhausted from previous use. Vullo noted that Al Nahyan has been undergoing treatment at the Priory Centre in Woking, Surrey, since July and has remained drug-free.
"She made a grave mistake that day and she knows it," Vullo said. He added that she has shown "significant remorse and resolve to overcome her addiction."
Justice Jeremy Johnson KC sentenced Al Nahyan to a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement. The judge also imposed a fine of £5,000 and ordered her to pay costs of £1,000. The court heard that Al Nahyan receives a monthly allowance of £8,000.
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Johnson said, "By leaving [the child] to play barefoot in the street while under the influence of drugs, you showed a recklessness and disregard for [the child’s] safety." He noted that without the intervention of strangers, there was a "serious risk" the child could have been injured, lost, or harmed.
Vullo outlined Al Nahyan's future plans, stating she intends to complete a three-month program at the Priory which ends at the end of October. Following this, she plans to rent a property in the Guildford area to become a day patient and attend Narcotics Anonymous.
This case highlights the legal consequences of child neglect involving high-profile individuals and underscores the role of public intervention in preventing harm to vulnerable children. It also illustrates the judicial approach to addiction-related offenses, balancing punishment with mandatory rehabilitation requirements.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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