The leader of the infamous Rochdale grooming gang, referred to as “Daddy” by his victims, is scheduled for release this week and will remain in the UK as he cannot be deported, according to information received by his victims.
Shabir Ahmed, 73, who held British-Pakistani citizenship, had his British citizenship revoked after being convicted in 2012 for numerous acts of rape and sexual offenses against young girls.
Official documents indicate that Ahmed is set to be released on Thursday under strict conditions. However, due to immigration laws dating back to 1971, his deportation to Pakistan is prohibited as he arrived in the UK before 1973 and has met residency criteria.
In a recent development, Andy Burnham, expected to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as the next prime minister in 2022, urged the government to take necessary actions to expel members of grooming gangs.
After serving a 19-year sentence following his trial at Liverpool Crown Court in 2012, Ahmed will be under supervision upon release, residing in a monitored facility and facing restrictions within a designated exclusion zone in Rochdale.
Local MP Paul Waugh expressed the community’s desire for Ahmed’s removal from the country, criticizing Pakistan’s reluctance to accept him back. Waugh suggested amending citizenship laws if necessary to facilitate his deportation.
The Rochdale case involved the abuse of underage girls for two years, with victims subjected to exploitation in various locations. Despite Ahmed’s protests during his trial and subsequent legal actions, he was convicted along with eight other men for offenses against multiple girls.
Authorities revealed that the victims, largely from disadvantaged backgrounds, endured severe mistreatment and were disregarded by the gang due to their social status and beliefs.
A subsequent inquiry highlighted systemic failures by law enforcement and local authorities for neglecting warning signs and reports of abuse in the Rochdale area.
Similar to Ahmed’s situation, two other gang members, Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, faced legal battles over their citizenship status after being convicted. Both invoked human rights laws to avoid deportation, further complicating the legal proceedings.
The Home Office emphasized the gravity of Ahmed’s crimes, acknowledging the profound impact on the victims and vowing to enforce strict monitoring measures upon his release to protect the public. Ahmed will be registered as a sex offender for life, with stringent conditions imposed on his movements and interactions to prevent any violation of his release terms.