Four men and a woman have been convicted of a series of horrific crimes against three teenage girls in the Welsh seaside town of Rhyl. The gang trafficked, raped, and abused the victims, who were aged just 14, 15, and 16, between April 2022 and March 2024.
Following a trial at Caernarfon Crown Court, Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Arshad, and Ziaullah Badshah were found guilty of rape, while Sarah Gray was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender. The men were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on September 25, while Gray was released on bail.
Abuse in cars, homes, and businesses
The court heard that the teenagers were given drugs and sexually abused in cars, homes, and businesses in Rhyl and the surrounding area. Prosecutor Owen Edwards KC described how the men used the girls as “sexual commodities” and “took full sexual advantage of Girl B in particular.”
The first two victims, Child B, aged 15, and Child C, aged 14, were approached by Iqbal, 43, near a petrol station and persuaded to return to his home. They were later joined by local coffee shop owner Arshad, 36, and his friend Badshah, 25. The girls had stated they were 17, had smoked cannabis with the men, and played spin the bottle.
Convictions and sentences
Badshah, who came to Rhyl as a refugee from Pakistan at 15, admitted kissing the girls and later having sex with Child B. He was found guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of conspiracy to traffic, two counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour, and supplying cannabis.
Arshad was found guilty of three counts of rape, two counts of conspiracy to traffic, two counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour, and supplying cannabis. One rape occurred in an alleyway outside his former business, Zayn's Coffee House.
Iqbal was found guilty of raping Child B and sexually assaulting Child C, as well as raping another teenager, Child A, aged 16, who lived in a care home. Described as a drug dealer, he supplied Child A with crack cocaine and cannabis in return for sex. He was convicted of 21 offences, including four rapes and three sexual assaults.
Gang unmasked after trip to London
The gang was exposed after former builder Jaswinder Singh, 61, took Child B to London. Singh claimed she was looking after his dog, but a concerned adult reported him to police. He was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to traffic and one count of supplying cannabis.
Gray, 53, was also found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.
Police and council respond
Det Ch Insp Richard Sidney said his thoughts were with the three young victims. “They were children, aged just 14 to 16, when they were subjected to exploitation and abuse by adults who took advantage of their vulnerabilities and sought to manipulate and control them for their own gain,” he said. “No child should have to experience what these young women endured.”
He added that the defendants had denied almost every allegation, and “I hope today's outcome sends a clear message that those who seek to groom and exploit vulnerable children will be relentlessly pursued.”
A Denbighshire council spokesperson said its thoughts were with the young women and recognised “the courage and bravery they have shown.” The council will work with the North Wales Safeguarding Board on a review to examine agencies' involvement and identify lessons for the future.
