Rochdale grooming gang 'daddy' to walk free from prison as victims 'living in fear'

Victims of the ringleader of the notorious Rochdale grooming gang say they are living in fear as Shabir Ahmed, 73, known to his victims as "Daddy", was released from prison on Thursday after serving 14 years following his 2012 conviction for multiple rape and sexual offences against young girls.

Ahmed cannot be deported to Pakistan despite having his British citizenship revoked, holding dual Pakistani-British citizenship. Documents from the Probation Service indicate he cannot be removed due to provisions in the Immigration Act 1971, which bar removal of those who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have lived here for at least five years.

One victim, identified only as Ruby and supported by The Maggie Oliver Foundation, said she is scared for her safety and her children's safety. "The main ringleader is getting out of prison who is well known in Rochdale, Oldham and Middleton," she stated, "so even if he's not in that area he still knows people and has a chance to talk to people from that area and that makes me unsafe."

Ruby called for legislative change to enable the deportation of grooming gang members, stating victims of abuse had been given false promises and left to fend for themselves through lack of support from authorities.

Ahmed was released on licence with substantial conditions, including initial residence at a 24-hour staffed accommodation and an exclusion zone centred on Rochdale. Between early 2008 and 2010, girls as young as 12 were targeted, plied with alcohol and drugs, gang-raped and exploited for sex. Ahmed worked as a taxi driver and was employed by Oldham Council as a benefits rights worker.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, stated that "nothing is off the table" regarding efforts to deport Ahmed, urging the Home and Foreign Secretaries to review all possible options. In the House of Lords, Baroness Falkner of Margravine called for amendment to the 55-year-old immigration law. Justice minister Lord Timpson confirmed Ahmed would face substantial licence conditions with 24-hour state monitoring.