CHANDIGARH: An Indian-origin man from Punjab was among five members of a gang convicted in the United Kingdom following a major child sexual exploitation investigation into crimes committed over more than four years.
The 61-year-old Jaswinder Singh was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to traffic and one count of supplying cannabis at the end of a three-month trial at Caernarfon Crown Court in Wales on Monday. North Wales Police said the convictions relate to the exploitation and abuse of three teenage girls in the seaside town of Rhyl and the surrounding area between April 2022 and March 2024.
The court heard that Singh took one of the victims to London and asked her to pretend to be his carer because he feared his sister would think he was part of an "Asian grooming gang."
In a unanimous verdict, the jury found all five accused guilty of more than 40 offences after hearing evidence of rape, sexual assault, child sexual exploitation, modern-day slavery offences, drug supply and attempts to obstruct justice.
Four men and a woman were found guilty of being part of a grooming gang that sexually exploited teenage girls. Mustafa Iqbal, Mohamed Usman Arshad, Ziaullah Badshah and Jaswinder Singh were convicted of conspiracy to traffic their victims. The four men were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on September 25, while Sarah Gray was released on bail.
According to police, the victims were aged between 14 and 16 when they were abused by adults.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Sidney, the senior investigating officer, said: "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."
In a statement, North Wales Police said: "A total of five defendants have today been convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court following a major child sexual exploitation investigation led by North Wales Police. The victims were aged between 14 and 16 at the time of the offences, which occurred in cars, residential addresses and 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 denied the charges brought against them and maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings."
Besides Singh, the other convicted accused were:
Mustafa Iqbal (43), of Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl, who 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, two counts of conspiracy to traffic, conspiracy to supply cannabis, conspiracy to supply cocaine, supplying cannabis, arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and breaching a trafficking risk order.
Mohamed Usman Arshad (36), of Clifton Grove, Rhyl, who 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.
Ziaullah Badshah (25), of Brighton Road, Rhyl, who 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, and supplying cannabis.
Sarah Gray (53), of Llanasa Road, Gronant, who was found guilty of perverting the course of justice, assisting an offender, conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.