The leader of the infamous Rochdale grooming gang, known as “Daddy” to his victims, is scheduled for release this week with no possibility of deportation, as revealed to the victims. Shabir Ahmed, aged 73, held dual British-Pakistani citizenship but lost his British citizenship following his 2012 conviction for numerous rape and sexual offense charges against girls.
According to documents reportedly from the Probation Service to one victim, Ahmed is set to be released on Thursday. However, due to specific provisions in the Immigration Act 1971, he cannot be sent back to Pakistan. These provisions stipulate that since he arrived in the UK before 1973 and resided in the country for at least five years before deportation was considered, his removal is prohibited.
In 2022, Andy Burnham, who is likely to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as the next prime minister, urged the Tory government to use all available means to deport members of grooming gangs.
Ahmed is expected to be released on license, initially residing in a 24-hour staffed accommodation within an exclusion zone centered on Rochdale.
Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, expressed the community’s desire for Ahmed’s deportation, criticizing the Pakistani government’s refusal to accept him back. He suggested amending the Citizenship Act if necessary.
During a two-year period starting in early 2008, girls as young as 12 were subjected to alcohol and drug-fueled gang rapes in various locations, including rooms above takeout establishments and flats accessed by taxis where payment was made for sexual exploitation.
Following his trial, Ahmed insulted the judge and appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, alleging an unfair trial. He was sentenced to 19 years in 2012 at Liverpool Crown Court, along with eight other men from the Rochdale grooming gang involved in offenses against five girls.
Authorities reported that the victims, mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds, were exploited and mistreated by the gang, potentially affecting up to 50 girls. The judge highlighted the lack of respect shown to the victims by the gang due to their different community and religion.
The Greater Manchester Police clarified that the crimes were not motivated by racial or cultural factors. A subsequent report revealed significant failures by police and local authorities despite previous concerns being raised.
Ahmed’s case mirrors the legal battles of two other gang members, Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, who were also stripped of their British citizenship in 2022 after a decade-long legal struggle up to the Court of Appeal. They cited article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights to avoid deportation.
The Home Office emphasized its focus on supporting the victims of these crimes and condemned Ahmed’s actions as part of the grooming gang scandal, calling it a dark chapter in the nation’s history. Upon release, Ahmed will be registered as a sex offender for life, with strict conditions including an exclusion from contacting victims or minors, curfews, and electronic monitoring. Any violation will result in immediate re-incarceration.
