CONCERNS had been raised about all three alleged victims in a Rhyl child sexual exploitation trial using drugs and being reported missing, a court heard.
Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Arshad, Ziaullah Badshah, Jaswinder Singh and Sarah Gray are on trial at Caernarfon Crown Court in relation to an alleged trafficking conspiracy between 2022 and 2024.
The case involves three teenage female complainants, who were allegedly provided with drugs in exchange for sexual activity.
On Tuesday (June 9), prosecutor Owen Edwards KC read out a statement from a social worker, who stated that there had been escalating concerns regarding Child C’s associations with “risky peer groups” and an involvement with older males from the Rhyl area.
There were also concerns relating to Child C involving sexual exploitation, drug misuse and “episodes of going missing”.
Child A was often reported missing, Mr Edwards said, but she said people “don’t need to worry” about her as she was “always safe”.
Concerns had been raised that she was “regularly doing drugs,” but it was not known from whom she was obtaining them or how she was paying for them.
When police spoke to Child A after she’d been reported missing, she refused to say where she had been, or who she had been with.
Child B was also repeatedly reported missing, and was heard to say that she “gets her drugs for free”.
Concerns were also raised that she was spending time with older males, including a man in his 40s.
In April 2022, Child B was driven to London by Jaswinder Singh, 65, of River Street, who is charged with conspiring to traffic her.
A friend of Child B’s, known as Child D, was then overheard saying to Singh: “You knew she was a child. The police are going to get you,” after Singh claimed he thought Child B was aged 18.
The arrests
Reading out the “agreed facts” to the jury, Mr Edwards said Mustafa Iqbal, 43, of Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl was first arrested at his home on April 27, 2022, and had a black mobile phone seized from him.
He was then arrested at his home again on January 17, 2024. On that occasion, within the boot of his Volskwagen Golf car, police recovered a plastic bag containing a sex toy and lubricant.
Iqbal’s third arrest, this time on suspicion of rape, happened on March 22, 2024; he was found to be in possession of £925 in cash when he was apprehended.
His final arrest came on August 7, 2025, when he was stopped while driving his Volkswagen Golf on Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl.
Mohamed Arshad, 36, of Clifton Grove, Rhyl was first arrested on Market Street, Rhyl on April 27, 2022. At the time, he was in possession of £301.20 in cash.
He was arrested again on August 7, 2025 on Clifton Grove, Rhyl.
Ziaullah Badshah, 25, of Brighton Road, Rhyl was first arrested on Brighton Road on April 27, 2022.
A small bundle of bank notes (primarily £10) was recovered within his bedsit, and were photographed but not seized.
Badshah was arrested on Brighton Road again on August 7, 2025.
Jaswinder Singh was first arrested on April 26, 2022 in London, and was interviewed by police the following day.
Singh was next arrested on River Street, Rhyl on August 7, 2025.
Sarah Gray, 53, of Llanasa Road, Gronant, had her home searched on July 16, 2024; a “crack pipe” was seized from her.
Gray, who denies perverting the course of justice, assisting an offender, and conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis, was arrested at her home on August 8, 2024 and April 23, 2025.
Previous convictions
Mr Edwards also told the jury of the defendants’ previous convictions.
Iqbal has convictions for offences including battery, possession of a bladed article in public, making off without payment, common assault, possessing a prohibited weapon, and breaching a community order.
Arshad was issued with a reprimand for two counts of theft in 2003, while Badshah is of previous good character.
Singh has been convicted of obtaining services by deception, drink-driving, and failing to comply with a community order’s requirements.
The defence case in the trial is expected to start later this week.
The charges
Mustafa Iqbal, 43, of Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl:
- Four counts of rape.
- Three counts of sexual assault.
- Three counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
- Two counts of conspiracy to traffic.
- Two counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour.
- Requiring a person to perform compulsory labour.
- 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.
- Possessing a prohibited weapon.
- Breaching a slavery/trafficking risk order.
Mohamed Arshad, 36, of Clifton Grove, Rhyl:
- Three 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.
Ziaullah Badshah, 25, of Brighton Road, Rhyl:
- Two counts of conspiracy to traffic.
- Two counts of rape.
- Two counts of conspiracy to require a person to perform compulsory labour.
- Supplying cannabis to another.
Jaswinder Singh, 65, of River Street, Rhyl:
- Two counts of conspiracy to traffic.
- Supplying cannabis to another.
Sarah Gray, 53, of Llanasa Road, Gronant:
- Perverting the course of justice.
- Assisting an offender.
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine to another.
- Conspiracy to supply cannabis to another.
