Rochdale grooming gang victim is ‘scared for her children’s safety’ as ringleader is set to be released from prison

A VICTIM of the Rochdale grooming gang has said that news a ringleader will be released from prison has left her “scared for her children’s safety”. A letter sent to all his victims revealed that Shabir Ahmed, 73, will walk free on Thursday after he was jailed for 30 child rapes in 2012. The leader of the paedophile gang has previously served 40-years worth of prison sentences following multiple convictions of raping and sexually assaulting children. However, due to a loophole in the Immigration Act 1971, Ahmed will stay in the country despite having his British citizenship removed. The divorced dad-of-four arrived in the UK before 1973, meaning he is exempt from removal as a Commonwealth citizen – as his victims were promised. One of the victims has expressed fear and disbelief that the gang leader will walk free and the system cannot get rid of him. Read more UK news She previously ran into another of her abusers in the supermarket, not knowing he had been released from prison. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Ruby, not her real name, said: “I was 12 years old when this started and still getting failed. “There are broken victims because of a broken system. I am scared for my safety and my children’s safety.” “The main ringleader, who is well known in Rochdale, Oldham and Middleton, is being released from prison. Most read in The Sun “Even if he is not in those areas, he still knows people and could contact them, which makes me feel unsafe.” She said that after the trial, the survivors “were told they would all be deported once released, but not one of them has been deported. “‘We need these laws to be updated. “Laws need to change, and victims need to be heard.” The victim’s calls have been backed by Andy Burnham who said nothing should be “off the table” to kick out Ahmed. He said he will hold talks over the case with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. The PM-in-waiting added: “I want this vile criminal out of the country. “Victims must come first.” The former taxi driver, known by his victims as ‘Daddy’, will be heavily monitored when he’s freed from HMP Leeds. The Ministry of Justice and probation service will spend thousands of pounds on implementing restrictions on him such as curfews and tagging in order to protect the public. Ahmed will be excluded from the Rochdale area and have to live in supervised accommodation. It’s understood that if Ahmed leaves the UK, he will be barred from re-entering. A Home Office spokesman said: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of these appalling crimes. “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. “The most vulnerable people were abused and exploited at the hands of evil child rapists and must face the full force of the law. “On his release he will be on the sex offender’s register for life, ordered to stay away from his victims and banned from contacting any child or young person. “As well as facing strict curfews and restriction zones, his every movement will be tracked, and he will be forced to wear an electronic tag. “Should he breach his conditions, he will be immediately locked up.” Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale, said: “This depraved paedophile should have been deported to Pakistan years ago. “The people of Rochdale want him booted out of the country and it’s simply unacceptable that the government of Pakistan are refusing to take him back. “If the Citizenship Act needs to be amended to do that, ministers should look at doing just that.” The Rochdale grooming gang scandal saw nine men rape and traffic vulnerable girls who were preyed on at two takeaways in the town. The gang were jailed for a total of 77 years, with Ahmed incarcerated for two counts of rape, one sex assault, trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child. During his trial, he exposed his naked torso in the dock and threw a clump of chest hair on the floor, saying of one victims: “She would have seen this.” He was also ordered to the cells halfway through his sentencing after telling the judge he was “talking s***”.