Ahmed Al Sanawi, a 35-year-old barber celebrated on social media for being the preferred hairstylist of top Premier League footballers, has found himself in legal trouble after a drink-fuelled street fight involving his £180,000 bright yellow Lamborghini. The court heard how the intoxicated barber, with his wife and three children in the vehicle, mounted pavements and engaged in a physical altercation following a heated argument.
Midnight Altercation at Italian Restaurant
The incident unfolded around midnight at Grappelli Italian restaurant in Cobham, Surrey, located near Chelsea FC's training grounds. This very establishment is where Al Sanawi has trimmed the locks of football legends including John Terry, Cesc Fabregas, and Eden Hazard, and where he was introduced to current stars like Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, and Reece James, all of whom are now clients.
Prosecutor Sophie Childs detailed to Guildford Magistrates' Court how Al Sanawi became embroiled in a row with his sister-in-law's partner, Connor Barbury. "Both this defendant and Mr Barbury were driving alongside each other, stopping and then driving again," she stated. "When Mr Al Sanawi attempted a U-turn, he hit his sister-in-law's car, which had been trying to reverse, leading to a physical altercation."
Dangerous Driving While Impaired
Al Sanawi, who resides in a £950,000 Cobham property with his family and also cuts hair in Dubai, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously on November 1, 2024. He additionally admitted to driving with 129mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, significantly exceeding the legal limit of 80mg.
The court was told that during the confrontation, Al Sanawi's children were "very, very distressed," and restaurant staff attempted to intervene. Police received multiple reports of him driving "very dangerously" on the high street, swerving between cars at high speed, driving on the pavement, and stopping abruptly in front of Mr Barbury, with onlookers filming the ensuing verbal dispute.
"The offence included speeding along the pavement, disregarding the risk to others, stopping multiple times, and carrying out highly-dangerous manoeuvres all while impaired by alcohol," Ms Childs emphasised. Police later found the "highly intoxicated" Al Sanawi with a bloody nose and bruised face after the men exchanged blows, and a separate fight occurred between his wife Tanya and her sister.
Defence Pleads for Leniency
Al Sanawi's lawyer, Ralph Pickering, argued that the incident was "completely out of character" for his client, describing him as a "hardworking, responsible, loving, supportive man." He noted that Al Sanawi, the face of his business 'A Star Barbers' in Chessington, South West London, has built a successful enterprise from the ground up with financial backing from a Sheikh in Dubai.
"He knows how serious it is and realises he has to face the consequences," Mr Pickering said. "This was not Mr Al Sanawi at his best. In fact, it was one of the worst days of his life. He feels guilt and shame at letting his family down so badly and has received medical attention for anxiety."
The defence lawyer highlighted Al Sanawi's use of his high-profile status to raise over £200,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and asserted that the barber came off worst in the physical altercation, being "punched multiple times" and left "confused and scared for his family," which were "the primary drivers for his behaviour that evening."
Sentencing and Consequences
Despite the defence's plea to avoid imprisonment, bench chairwoman Louise Tyrrell acknowledged the severity of the offences, aggravated by the presence of children and terrified members of the public who called emergency services. However, she considered Al Sanawi's clean driving record, guilty plea, and demonstrated remorse.
Al Sanawi was sentenced to 200 hours of community service work, fined £1,207 plus £85 in costs, and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from driving for twelve months, marking a stark fall from grace for the barber to the stars.
