Five individuals have been sentenced to a collective total of more than 80 years’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court following an extensive covert investigation into child sexual exploitation, rape, human trafficking, and drug offences in Rhyl, Denbighshire.
The sentencings on Friday, 25 September conclude a series of prosecutions arising from Operations Embank and Zirconium—two coordinated North Wales Police operations that tracked the gang’s activities between April 2022 and March 2024.
Following a three-month Crown Court trial, a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts across more than 40 separate criminal counts involving the exploitation of three female children aged 14, 15, and 16.
Under UK legislation, all victims of sexual offences are protected by lifelong statutory anonymity.
The court heard that members of the network targeted the victims on local streets before introducing them to Zayn’s Coffee House in Rhyl, a business operated by co-defendant Mohamed Usman Arshad. The venue served as a focal meeting point where the gang coordinated their contact with the girls.
The victims were systematically supplied with cannabis and crack cocaine and subjected to sexual manipulation, including games of “spin the bottle”, before being assaulted and raped in vehicles, commercial premises, and private residences throughout Denbighshire.
The operation was uncovered when an adult raised safeguarding concerns in London after 61-year-old Jaswinder Singh transported a 15-year-old child to the capital under the pretence of having her mind his dog. Further disclosures regarding the supply of drugs in exchange for sexual access at a residential property in Gronant led detectives to execute simultaneous raids across Rhyl in August 2025.
Sentences Imposed at Caernarfon Crown Court:
Mustafa Iqbal, aged 43, of Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl: Convicted of four counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, three counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour, two counts of conspiracy to traffic, arranging or facilitating travel for exploitation, conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis, supplying cannabis, and breaching a slavery and trafficking risk order.
Sentence: 30 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of five years.
Mohamed Usman Arshad, aged 36, of Clifton Grove, Rhyl: Convicted 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.
Sentence: 19 years’ imprisonment.
Ziaullah Badshah, aged 25, of Brighton Road, Rhyl: Convicted 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.
Sentence: 17 years’ imprisonment.
Jaswinder Singh, aged 61, of River Street, Rhyl: Convicted of two counts of conspiracy to traffic and one count of supplying cannabis.
Sentence: 8 years’ imprisonment.
Sarah Gray, aged 53, of Llanasa Road, Gronant: Convicted of perverting the course of justice, assisting an offender, conspiracy to supply cocaine, and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
Sentence: 8 years’ imprisonment.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing determinate terms of seven years or more for serious sexual and violent offences, standard release at the halfway point does not apply. The defendants receiving immediate custodial sentences for these specified offences must serve at least two-thirds of their sentences in prison custody before becoming eligible for licence consideration. Iqbal, having received an extended sentence, will require Parole Board approval before any release on licence can be authorised.
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