Cafe Owner Denies Rape Allegation in Court
A cafe owner has described an allegation that he raped a teenage girl in an alleyway as "mind-boggling" while giving evidence to a jury.
Mohamed Usman Arshad, aged 36, from Clifton Grove, Rhyl in Denbighshire, is among four men charged with child sexual exploitation and trafficking offences.
Arshad denies three counts of rape, conspiracy to traffic and forced labour, as well as supplying cannabis to two girls aged 14 and 15.
He provided testimony for the first time as the defence cases commenced in the ongoing trial.
Main Defendant Not Giving Evidence
The jury was informed that the principal defendant, Mustafa Iqbal, would not be called to give evidence.
Iqbal faces four charges of rape, sexual assault allegations, trafficking and exploitation claims, alongside drug offences involving the two girls and a third girl who was 16 at the time.
Relationship Between Defendants
Arshad explained to the jury that he had become acquainted with Iqbal while working at a takeaway restaurant in Rhyl.
He stated that Iqbal later worked for him temporarily, assisting at Zayn's Coffee House, the cafe Arshad operated, and at a nearby fish and chip shop.
Incident at Iqbal's Home
Arshad recounted an occasion in March 2022 when he was late-night shopping at a wholesale outlet with another defendant, Ziaullah Badshah, and was invited to Iqbal's residence.
"We arrived there and there were two girls with Mr Iqbal," said Arshad.
"They were playing music and stuff, playing music and chilling."
He described briefly speaking with one of the girls, referred to as Child B, who began a game of spin the bottle, resulting in Badshah kissing her.
Arshad said the girl told him she was 17 years old, and he only learned she was 15 after sexual abuse allegations emerged.
The jury heard that the girl subsequently visited his cafe seeking employment.
Denial of Sexual Contact
When questioned directly by his defence barrister about whether he engaged in oral sex with the girl behind the cafe, Arshad denied the allegation.
"The whole area was covered in CCTV cameras and I would have had to take the girl through the cafe past at least two members of staff," he said.
"I don't understand how that is logical," he added.
"My mother and father are next door. It's mind-boggling to me.
"I'm going to risk everything?"
