LONDON, 15 Oct. - (ANA) - A member of one of the world's richest royal families was found unconscious on a busy London street after a cocaine binge while caring for a toddler. Mahrah Al Nahyan, 32, was slumped against railings in west London beside an unconscious man as the barefoot three-year-old played nearby with a scooter, a court heard.

 

Members of the public raised the alarm after spotting the child unattended close to moving traffic on June 13 this year. Al Nahyan, who had taken cocaine in the days before the incident, remained unconscious for around 30 minutes, prosecutors told Southwark Crown Court. The child was left in the care of concerned strangers until police arrived at the scene at around 1.50pm.

 

Prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour said members of the public had intervened because the toddler was without shoes and appeared to be in danger, reported The Times.

 

He told the court: "They noticed the child was unattended, without shoes on the street with a scooter and members of the public intervened as he seemed to be in close proximity to moving traffic."

 

Footage recorded by a member of the public showed Al Nahyan sitting slumped against railings with her head bowed and arms crossed. A toy plane was on the ground beside her, while the child played nearby.

 

An unconscious man could also be seen lying on his back in a doorway next to her.

 

When Al Nahyan eventually awoke, she allegedly behaved erratically and shouted at those around her: "This is not a slaughterhouse, why do you care so much? Why are you so worried?"

 

Police discovered drug paraphernalia in her bags, although no illegal substances were found, the court heard.

 

Al Nahyan, who is connected by marriage to Abu Dhabi's ruling royal family, admitted one charge of child neglect.

 

Her defence barrister, Stephen Vullo KC, said she had not taken any illicit substances on the day of the incident but was exhausted after taking cocaine beforehand.

 

He told the court she had been receiving treatment for drug addiction at the Priory centre in Woking, Surrey, since July.

 

Mr Vullo said his client had abstained from drugs since entering treatment and had shown "significant remorse and resolve to overcome her addiction".

 

She intended to complete a three-month programme before moving to the Guildford area, where she planned to continue treatment as a day patient and attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

 

He added: "She made a grave mistake that day and she knows it."

 

Sentencing her, Mr Justice Johnson KC condemned Al Nahyan's disregard for the child's safety.

 

The judge 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 described how the toddler had run towards the road while chasing a piece of paper before being stopped by a member of the public.

 

The judge warned that, without the intervention of strangers, the child could have suffered serious injury or worse.

 

He also said the toddler could have wandered off, become lost, been taken or harmed by a stranger, or become distressed at seeing Al Nahyan and her companion unconscious.

 

Al Nahyan was handed a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement. She was also fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in prosecution costs.

 

The court heard she receives a monthly allowance of £8,000.

 

Her family belongs to the powerful Abu Dhabi ruling dynasty, whose wealth is estimated at more than £250 billion and whose influence extends across global investments and the United Arab Emirates' vast oil resources.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/15 October 2026 - - -