“I think all the way through the investigation we saw victim-blaming language from the offenders,” said Sidney.
“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.”
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard that Child C now suffers from panic attacks and anxiety at the thought of going to Rhyl, and has damaged relationships as she has grown-up.
In a victim impact statement, she said: “This has been the most traumatic experience I have ever faced.
“Although I feel that I have dealt with it well, I know that it is something I will never forget and will have to learn to live with.”
A safeguarding review is now due to take place by the North Wales Safeguarding Board into how the grooming gang was able to operate and target vulnerable victims.
It will also have to address questions for North Wales Police who began an initial investigation into the grooming back in 2022 but took a decision not to proceed.
It was only when Iqbal went on to rape his third victim that those investigations were reopened, leading to the arrests of the whole gang in August 2025.
The judge told the court that he would expect the matter to be a focus for reflection.
Jailing the gang, Judge Simon Mills described Iqbal as “devious and thoroughly manipulative”.
He said the offender posed an ongoing risk to the public, especially young teenage girls.
In addition to the jail sentence for ringleader Iqbal, Arshad was given a 19-year prison term for his role, Badshah was jailed for 17 years, and Singh for eight years.
Sarah Gray was also handed an eight-year prison sentence for was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender. She helped Iqbal try to cover up the rapes of the 16-year-old child at her own home.
All four men were told they will remain on a sex offenders register indefinitely.
North Wales Police said it hoped their investigation sent a clear message to those living in Rhyl and beyond.
“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.”
