Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
A court in Caernarfon heard from the aunt of a teenage girl who claimed she was sexually exploited by a group of men. The aunt described how concern arose after the 15-year-old was taken to London, where she appeared “terrified,” raising alarm among those close to her. The trial, which is anticipated to last up to eight weeks, is currently underway at Caernarfon Crown Court.
Four men from Rhyl, Denbighshire, have been charged with conspiracy to traffic and providing cannabis in exchange for sexual services. The allegations also include similar offenses involving a 14-year-old girl. Among the accused are Mustafa Iqbal, aged 43, Ziaullah Badshah, 25, and Mohamed Usman Arshad, 36, who face additional rape charges related to victims aged between 14 and 16 years old. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
During proceedings on Monday, the court was told that a 15-year-old identified as Child B asserted she was raped by three of the accused men in spring 2022. According to the prosecution, in April 2022, Child B was driven to London by 65-year-old Jaswinder Singh, who denies any involvement in trafficking or supplying her with cannabis. The teenager’s aunt, whose identity is protected by legal restrictions, testified that she was not aware of the girl’s trip to London, believing she was staying locally with a friend. Upon her return to Rhyl, the aunt described Child B as looking “like a shell” and “totally deflated,” saying, “She was inconsolable, scared, just terrified.” It was only after sitting in on the girl’s video interviews with police that the aunt learned the full extent of the sexual abuse allegations.
Further charges against Iqbal include the rape of a 16-year-old girl and supplying her with cannabis and cocaine, allegedly in connection with Sarah Gray, 53, who is also charged with perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender, though she denies these accusations. Alongside multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, Iqbal faces allegations of arranging or facilitating travel for exploitation purposes. The trial remains ongoing at Caernarfon Crown Court
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.