Five convicted following child sexual exploitation investigation

Five people have today been convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court following a major child sexual exploitation investigation led by North Wales Police.

The convictions relate to the exploitation and abuse of three teenage girls in Rhyl and the surrounding area between April 2022 and March 2024.

The victims’ ages ranged between 14 and 16 at the time of the offences, which occurred in cars, residential addresses, and at business premises in the Denbighshire area.

During a three-month trial, the court heard evidence of rape, sexual assault, child sexual exploitation, modern day slavery offences, drug supply, and attempts to obstruct justice.

All offences were reviewed by North Wales Police detectives as part of linked investigations named Operation Embank and Operation Zirconium, which targeted those involved in child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Each of the defendants had denied the charges brought against them at court and maintained their innocence throughout proceedings.

Following a unanimous jury verdict in court, the five defendants were found guilty of 40 separate offences in total.

Mustafa Iqbal, 43, of Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl, was found guilty of four counts of rape, three counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and two counts of conspiracy to traffic.

Iqbal was also found guilty of conspiracy to supply cannabis to another, conspiracy to supply cocaine to another, supplying cannabis to another, arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and breaching a slavery/trafficking risk order.

Mohamed Usman Arshad, 36, of Clifton Grove, Rhyl, 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 to another.

Ziaullah Badshah, 25, of Brighton Road, Rhyl, 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, supplying cannabis to another.

Jaswinder Singh, 65, of River Street, Rhyl, was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to traffic and one count of supplying cannabis to another.

53-year old Sarah Gray, of Llanasa Road, Gronant, was also charged with multiple offences for her role in the offending.

She was found guilty of perverting the course of justice, assisting an offender, conspiracy to supply cocaine to another and conspiracy to supply cannabis to another.

All defendants have been remanded in custody and will now be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 25 September.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Richard Sidney said: “Today, my thoughts are first and foremost with the three young women at the heart of this case.

“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.

“No child should have to experience what these young women endured. The impact of child sexual exploitation can be profound and long-lasting, and the harm caused by these offences cannot be understated.

“Today’s verdicts represent an important step towards accountability and justice. While no court outcome can undo the trauma these young women have experienced, I hope this result offers some measure of recognition of the harm done to them.

“Throughout this investigation and the three-month trial, the young women engaged with the criminal justice process despite the significant challenges that can come with revisiting traumatic experiences. By sharing their evidence, they helped ensure those responsible could be held accountable for their actions.

“I would like to thank them for the trust they placed in the investigation team and acknowledge the difficult journey they have been through. I also want them to know that what happened to them was not their fault. Today’s convictions are a reflection of the offenders’ actions and decisions, not the actions of the children they exploited.

“Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badsha, Jaswinder Singh, and Sarah Gray, denied almost every allegation against them from the outset.

“Rather than accepting responsibility for the appalling harm they caused, they forced these young women to endure the additional trauma of a lengthy trial, requiring them to relive their experiences in a courtroom.

“I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message that those who seek to groom and exploit vulnerable children will be relentlessly pursued.

“We remain committed to identifying offenders, supporting victims and working with our partners to protect young people from those who seek to abuse and exploit them.

“I would also like to recognise the professionalism and dedication of the investigative team, specialist staff, prosecutors and partner agencies who have worked tirelessly to support the victims and present this case before the court.”

To report child sexual exploitation, please contact the police online or by calling 101. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or vulnerable to harm, call 999.

If you have been affected by exploitation, abuse, or coercion, confidential support is available.

You can contact the NSPCC charity on 0808 800 5000 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk for advice and information. If you are a child who needs help, call Childline on 0800 11 11.