Release of Rochdale grooming gang leader ‘really scary’, says whistleblower
Summary
Shabir Ahmed, the leader of the Rochdale grooming gang, is set to be released from prison but cannot be deported to Pakistan due to a legal rule. Whistleblower Sara Rowbotham and local leaders express concern about his release because of weak probation monitoring and his past abuse of young girls.Key Facts
- Shabir Ahmed was convicted in 2012 for multiple counts of child rape and sexual offences involving girls as young as 13.
- He was sentenced to 19 years in prison and is now due for release on licence.
- Ahmed was stripped of British citizenship but cannot be deported under the Immigration Act 1971 since he entered the UK before 1973.
- Sara Rowbotham, who helped expose the grooming ring, worries about Ahmed’s potential risk to women and girls after release.
- The probation service is described as underfunded, raising concerns about monitoring Ahmed’s behavior properly.
- Ahmed must live in supervised housing with 24-hour staff and stay away from a defined area in Rochdale.
- Some local MPs and victims learned of Ahmed’s release through social media, not official notice.
- Labour MP Andy Burnham plans to explore ways to close legal gaps preventing Ahmed’s deportation if he becomes prime minister.
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