The prospect of Shabir Ahmed's release from prison has sent shockwaves through Rochdale, where he led the notorious grooming gang that preyed on vulnerable girls as young as 13. Sara Rowbotham, a former health worker instrumental in exposing the ring, is among those voicing grave concerns about his imminent return to the community. "It's really scary," she warns, attributing her fears to a perceived weakness in the probation service and Ahmed's apparent lack of remorse for his crimes.
Ms Rowbotham, whose tireless efforts helped secure the conviction of Ahmed and eight other men in 2012, has expressed her own terror at the possibility of encountering him. She revealed that Ahmed has been on her mind since learning he would not be deported as initially promised, stating, "I am genuinely concerned that I will see him walk out of a local bail hostel near my house." Her words are a testament to the trauma and anxiety still being felt by those who suffered at his hands.
Despite being stripped of his British citizenship after conviction for multiple counts of rape and sexual offences, Ahmed remains in the UK due to a legal loophole within the Immigration Act 1971. The government confirmed this week that provisions in the Act bar his removal because he arrived in the UK before 1973 and had lived in the country for at least five years prior to deportation consideration.
Ms Rowbotham has expressed profound doubt about the effectiveness of post-release monitoring, highlighting Ahmed's history of coercing and manipulating a group of men, as well as his volatile behaviour in court. She questioned whether his views have truly changed, stating there have been no indications to suggest otherwise. "The de-investment in probation services means that any monitoring of him and his behaviour is likely to be really weak," she warned.
The Home Office has acknowledged the "appalling" nature of Ahmed's crimes, affirming that he will be subject to stringent licence conditions upon release, including residing in supervised accommodation with 24-hour staffing and an "exclusion zone" centred on Rochdale. However, some victims, witnesses, and local MPs were not directly informed of his impending release, learning about it via social media.
Justice Secretary David Lammy is now being lobbied by MPs to extend the exclusion zone to encompass other towns, such as Heywood, where Ahmed's takeaway was a site of abuse. Ms Rowbotham remains conflicted over deportation, recognising the promise made to survivors but also expressing concern for the safety of women and children in Pakistan.
She believes there is a responsibility to keep people safe regardless of their location, stating, "I am uncomfortable with just sending people to their country of origin without ensuring they are held accountable for their crimes."