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A group comprising four men and one woman has been convicted for their involvement in a grooming ring that exploited teenage girls for sexual purposes. Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Arshad, Ziaullah Badshah, and Jaswinder Singh were found guilty of conspiring to traffic victims aged between 14 and 16. The proceedings took place at Caernarfon Crown Court, where Iqbal, Arshad, and Badshah were additionally convicted of rape. Sarah Gray, another member of the group, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender.
The victims, identified only as Child A, B, and C, were exploited over a period spanning April 2022 to March 2024. Prosecutor Owen Edwards KC described the men’s treatment of the girls as that of “sexual commodities,” highlighting that Girl B was particularly targeted. The court heard that one victim, Child A, was held captive with handcuffs by Iqbal before being raped. The abuse took place across various locations including cars, homes, and local businesses in Rhyl, Denbighshire, and surrounding areas.
Child B, aged 15, and Child C, aged 14, were initially approached by Iqbal near a petrol station in Rhyl. After convincing them to come to his home, they were joined by Arshad and Badshah. During the trial, the girls revealed they had misrepresented their ages as 17, consumed cannabis with the men, and participated in games like spin the bottle. Badshah, a refugee from Pakistan, admitted to kissing both girls and having sex with Child B. He was found guilty of multiple offenses including rape, conspiracy to traffic, and supplying cannabis.
Jaswinder Singh, who accompanied Child B to London, was also convicted for involvement in trafficking and drug supply offenses. Singh maintained there was no sexual intent, claiming the girl was simply taking care of his dog, but his actions raised concern, leading to a police report. Sarah Gray was found guilty of conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis. Following the verdicts, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Sidney expressed sympathy for the young victims and emphasized that the defendants denied almost all allegations. He affirmed a commitment to pursuing those who exploit vulnerable children. Denbighshire council also acknowledged the victims’ bravery and announced a forthcoming review alongside the North Wales Safeguarding Board to evaluate agency involvement and lessons learned
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