The bail hostel the convicted paedophile will be staying at is believed to cost taxpayers £120 a night.
Shabir Ahmed has been released from prison (Image: -)
Notorious Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed is now free to roam British streets after being released from prison – and cannot be deported from the UK.
The vile predator, 73, was caged in 2012 for 30 counts of rape and sexual offences against young girls. Ahmed was the ring leader of a grooming gang of predominantly Pakistani heritage men targeting white girls in Rochdale, Lancs.
Ahmed, known to his victims as “Daddy”, had dual British-Pakistani citizenship but his British portion was stripped after his conviction.
The Express understands Shabir’s victims have now been informed he has left prison and is at his secure accommodation. The bail hostel the convicted paedophile will be staying at is believed to cost taxpayers £120 a night.
Rochdale Grooming Gang leader known to his victims as ‘Daddy’ to be released from prison despite calls for deportation
Outside HMP Leeds on Thursday morning, the prison where it is believed Ahmed was most recently detained, a taxi collected a prisoner and left with a man flanked by two officers with a cover over the inmate’s head.
When the taxi returned the prisoner was no longer in the cab, which was still occupied by the two officers.
Ahmed must initially live in supervised accommodation 24/7 and will be subject to an “exclusion zone” centred on Rochdale.
The Express have contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment, but the department said it could not confirm specific details of Ahmed’s release, citing “security concerms”.
Rochdale grooming gang ring leader Shabir Ahmed (Image: MEN Media)
Downing Street said the Government was unable to deport grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed because of the 1971 Immigration Act, suggesting it had no plans to change that legislation.
Asked about the case, a No 10 spokeswoman said: “Ahmed’s horrific crimes were at the heart of the grooming gangs scandal that represents one of the darkest moments in our country’s history.
“He will rightly be on the sex offenders register for life, ordered to stay away from his victims and banned from contacting any child or young person.
“His every movement will be tracked, forced to wear an electronic tag and, on this specific case, we cannot deport someone who is protected by the 1971 Immigration Act.
“These were the same provisions which have protected many individuals caught up in the Windrush crisis.”
Asked about Baroness Jacqui Smith’s comments that ministers were looking at “every route” to remove Ahmed, the spokeswoman said: “We have looked at every route and this is the position.”
