Five people have been found guilty and jailed for their roles in a child sexual exploitation gang that targeted teenage girls in the seaside town of Rhyl, Denbighshire. The ringleader, Mustafa Iqbal, received a 35-year prison sentence after conviction on 21 offences, while four accomplices received sentences ranging from eight to 19 years. The case emerged from one of the most complex investigations undertaken by North Wales Police into sexual exploitation, involving hundreds of hours of CCTV analysis and months of careful work to gain the trust of three young victims.
How the gang operated
The three victims were aged 14, 15 and 16 when they were abused by the group. Iqbal, aged 43, initially targeted two girls in April 2022 after spotting them in Rhyl. He persuaded them to return to his home, where they were introduced to Mohamed Usman Arshad, a 36-year-old coffee shop owner, and Ziaullah Badshah, a 25-year-old who had arrived in Rhyl as a refugee from Pakistan at age 15. The girls were given cannabis and encouraged to play a game of "spin the bottle" before being sexually abused.
Arshad's establishment, Zayn's Coffee House, became a central meeting point for the offenders and was voted the town's business with the friendliest staff—a facade that masked the criminal conspiracy unfolding within and around it. The coffee house served as a crucial link connecting the abusers, where they either worked or gathered to plan their activities.
A third victim, aged 16 at the time, was groomed by Iqbal through a different method. Operating as a local drug dealer, he supplied her with crack cocaine and cannabis in exchange for sexual acts. He enlisted the help of Sarah Gray, a 53-year-old from nearby Gronant, offering her drugs in return for allowing him to use her home to carry out the abuse.
Jaswinder Singh, a 61-year-old British-born former builder, became involved through his connection to Arshad. He allowed Arshad to use his car to transport the victims around Rhyl. Singh also used deception to isolate one victim, persuading a 15-year-old girl to accompany him on a trip to London under the pretence of asking her to look after his dog. However, an adult in London raised concerns about his intentions and alerted police, triggering a wider investigation that ultimately exposed the entire conspiracy.
The investigation and trial
North Wales Police conducted an extensive inquiry that involved analysing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, examining phone records, and tracking travel patterns to piece together evidence of the abuse. The investigation was conducted largely in secret, with the offenders unaware that a case was being built against them until coordinated police raids across Rhyl in August 2025 led to their arrests.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Sidney, who led the inquiry, described the complexity of the case.
"First of all we had the challenges of getting the accounts from the victims, they were really difficult accounts to give. They had to show real strength in doing that."The police team spent several weeks gaining the trust of the three victims as they gradually revealed what had happened to them, working alongside social service teams and charities including Barnardo's, as well as the Hydrant Programme, a national police initiative to tackle child abuse.
Detective Sergeant Keira Williams, another key member of the investigation team, emphasised the patience required.
"I don't think I could articulate how difficult it was for them. We just made sure we went at their pace, they were allowing us insight into what it was like to be the victim of an incredibly horrendous crime. The most we could do was be patient and allow them to give us their account in their own time."
A three-month trial at Caernarfon Crown Court heard evidence of the systematic abuse. Iqbal was convicted of raping two of the victims and sexually assaulting a third. Arshad was found guilty of rape after a sexual act in an alleyway outside his former business. Badshah admitted to kissing two victims and having sex with one at his own home. Singh's involvement in transporting victims and his deceptive tactics led to his conviction. The trial also exposed a wider set of convictions than initially apparent, including charges of trafficking for sexual exploitation, conspiracy to require compulsory labour, drug supply, and perverting the course of justice.
Iqbal refused to cooperate with police during questioning, providing only "no comment" responses, and later declined to give evidence at trial. Arshad attempted to portray himself as a respectable businessman who would not jeopardise his reputation through such crimes. Badshah claimed he only discovered the victims' true ages upon arrest. Singh presented himself as a sociable acquaintance with no serious involvement.
Sentencing and victim-blaming
On 25 September 2026, sentencing took place at Caernarfon Crown Court. Iqbal received 35 years imprisonment. Arshad was sentenced to 19 years, Badshah to 17 years, and Singh to eight years. Sarah Gray also received an eight-year sentence after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender; she had helped Iqbal attempt to cover up the rapes of the 16-year-old victim at her home. All four men were placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Additionally, Iqbal was convicted of contacting a 17-year-old girl in breach of a slavery and trafficking risk order, demonstrating his continued predatory behaviour even under legal restrictions.
Detective Chief Inspector Sidney reflected on the offenders' attitudes throughout the investigation.
"I think all the way through the investigation we saw victim-blaming language from the offenders. It seemed they had no recollection or understanding of the harm they were causing to the victims. These were horrific offences over a prolonged period of time that really demonstrated how serious the offending was and exasperated the impact on the victims."
"These men targeted these children, and I think they did that because they thought they could manipulate them easier, do things that adults wouldn't do—that was for their own sexual gratification. They were predators preying on children because they were children. There was a total disregard for their offending. There was a total disregard for their criminality."
Community impact and police message
North Wales Police emphasised the seriousness with which it treats such offences. The force stated it hoped the investigation sent a clear message to those living in Rhyl and beyond. A police spokesperson said:
"I understand the community will be shocked that this has happened where they live. I hope they get some reassurance that we've demonstrated that we take this sort of offending seriously."
Key facts
- Five defendants were convicted following a three-month trial at Caernarfon Crown Court in spring 2026, facing 28 charges including trafficking for sexual exploitation, rape, drug supply and sexual assault
- The ringleader Mustafa Iqbal, aged 43, received 35 years; Mohamed Usman Arshad received 19 years; Ziaullah Badshah received 17 years; Jaswinder Singh received eight years; Sarah Gray received eight years
- All four men were placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely
- The investigation involved analysis of hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, phone records and travel patterns, conducted largely in secret before coordinated arrests in August 2025
- Three victims, aged 14, 15 and 16 at the time of abuse, received support from social services, Barnardo's and the Hydrant Programme during the investigation
