Mahrah Al Nahyan sentenced for child neglect

Mahrah Al Nahyan admitted one charge of child neglect at Southwark Crown Court and was sentenced to a two-year community order, a £5,000 fine and £1,000 in costs. The sentence includes a rehabilitation requirement. The court heard that the 32-year-old was caring for a three-year-old when she was found unresponsive in west London in June. Prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour told the court that Al Nahyan was found slumped against railings near an unconscious man on June 13. The child, who was barefoot and had a scooter, was unattended near moving traffic, the court heard. Members of the public intervened after noticing the situation. One passerby stopped the child from running towards the road while chasing a piece of paper, according to the prosecution account. Al Nahyan remained unresponsive for about 30 minutes after police arrived, the court heard. Officers found drug paraphernalia among her belongings but no illicit substances. The court heard that she had taken cocaine in the days before the incident. Her defence barrister, Stephen Vullo KC, said she had not taken drugs on the day she was found and was exhausted after using cocaine in the preceding days.