Emirati royal passed out on busy west London street with three-year-old child after cocaine binge
Mahrah Al Nahyan, 32, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family by marriage, admitted child neglect after being found unresponsive on a west London street while caring for a three-year-old. The child was barefoot near moving traffic, and members of the public stepped in and stayed with them until police arrived.
A court heard Al Nahyan had taken cocaine in the days before the incident in June, though her lawyer said she had not taken drugs that day and was very tired. She is receiving addiction treatment and expressed remorse, the court was told. She received a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement, a £5,000 fine and £1,000 in costs.
- Passers-by cared for a barefoot toddler while Al Nahyan was unresponsive.
- She admitted child neglect and is undergoing addiction treatment.
- The court imposed a community order, a £5,000 fine and costs.
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Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug that can affect a person’s judgement and health. In England and Wales, a carer may face a child neglect charge if they fail to protect a child from a serious risk of harm.
Mahrah Al Nahyan is a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family by marriage. The case concerns her responsibility for a three-year-old child in her care, and the role of members of the public and police when a young child may be in danger.
Child neglect cases can involve questions about a carer’s condition, the risks a child faced and what support or penalties may follow. Community orders can require rehabilitation, while fines and costs are financial penalties.