Grooming Gang Ringleader, 73, Who Has Been Convicted of 30 Child Rape Offences ‘Cannot Be Deported’ and Is Set to Walk Free From Prison

A grooming gang ringleader who was convicted of 30 child rapes reportedly cannot be deported – despite being stripped of his British citizenship.

Shabir Ahmed, 73, a key figure in the Rochdale grooming gangs, is set to be released from prison within a matter of days.

Ahmed immigrated to the UK from Pakistan and his British citizenship was revoked during his prison sentence – but he will stay in the country thanks to a rule in the Immigration Act 1971.

A clause protects Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 from removal.

Instead, he will be allowed to live in the community under a number of curfews and exclusion zones.

Ahmed was jailed in 2012 for concurrent sentences of 22 and 19 years.

He was one of nine men convicted of sexual offences against multiple children, who they groomed at two takeaway restaurants in Rochdale. Prosecutors identified Ahmed as one of the ringleaders.

After 14 years behind bars, he is due to be released on July 2 this year, his victims have been told in an email.

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