Grooming gang ringleader, 73, who has been convicted of 30 child rape offences 'cannot be deported' and is set to walk free from prison

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:53, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 01:57, 30 June 2026 A grooming gang ringleader who was convicted of 30 child rapes cannot be reported - 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 Ahmed immigrated to the UK from Pakistan and his British citizenship was revoked during his prison sentence - but he will stay in the country thanks to a rule in the Immigration Act 1971.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. Shabir Ahmed, 73, will be released from prison on July 2 - but cannot be deported Ahmed was jailed in 2012 as one of nine men who subject girls as young as 13 to sexual abuse at two takeaways in Rochdale A court heard that Ahmed had abused one girl for more than a decade, using her as a 'possession' for sexual gratification. After 14 years behind bars, he is due to be released on July 2 this year, his victims have been told in an email.  The Victim Contact scheme informed them Ahmed will be subject to an exclusion zone covering the entire borough of Rochdale until June 10, 2034, the Oldham Chronicle reports. He will also be required to live in supervised accommodation under the watch of 24-hour staff. It is understood that if he leaves the UK he will be barred from returning. The email adds that all possible routes to deporting Ahmed have been explored, but that it is not possible because he has renounced his Pakistani citizenship. Ahmed's case is similar to two other jailed Rochdale abusers, Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, who have already been released but also cannot be deported for the same reason. For more than a year negotiations have been underway to try to persuade Pakistan to take the men back.  A Home Office spokesperson 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, forced to wear an electronic tag. Should he breach his conditions, he will be immediately locked up.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.