Paedophile ringleader handed 35 year jail term could be released after serving just 10 YEARS thanks to Labour's 'soft justice' measures

By DAVID BARRETT, HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR Published: 19:57, 19 June 2026 | Updated: 19:59, 19 June 2026 The ringleader of a sex grooming gang is being lined up for early release under Labour’s soft justice measures despite being handed a 35 year sentence. Arshid Hussain raped and abused teenage girls in Rotherham, and a judge said his gang had committed ‘devastating’ harm of ‘unimaginable proportions’. But now one of his victims has been officially notified by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) that her abuser may be coming out of jail soon – after just 10 years. Under Labour’s new sentencing laws, being implemented in September, he could be freed after serving as little as a third of his sentence. The victim who received the letter, Sammy Woodhouse, became pregnant with her first son aged 14 after being groomed and raped, and has waived her right to anonymity. Ms Woodhouse posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Due to the Sentencing Act 2026, Arshid Hussain – the man who abducted and raped me as a child, and who did the same to dozens of other children – is being considered for early release. ‘He was sentenced to 35 years in prison in early 2017 and was described as one of the most dangerous men in the UK. Rotherham grooming gang ringleader Arshid Hussain was jailed for 35 years in 2016 - but could be released soon thanks to Labour's sentencing reforms ‘I honestly can’t put into words how disgusted I am with the British government.’ She posted a copy of the letter which said she will receive further notification in August if Hussain is to be released. Signed by an MoJ ‘victim liaison officer’, it added: ‘I understand that receiving this information may be difficult, and we recognise the lasting impact the offence may have had on you.’ One of Hussain's victims Sammy Woodhouse, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she was 'disgusted' at the government after the potential impact of their reforms became clear Under rules which remain in force until September, overseen by Justice Secretary David Lammy, Hussain would have served 50 per cent or more of his sentence. But Labour changed the rules to free up space in the jails, allowing offenders on standard sentences to be freed after serving 33 per cent if they have demonstrated good behaviour in jail. Hussain was found guilty in 2016 at Sheffield Crown Court of 38 offences, including rape, indecent assault, abduction, false imprisonment and making threats to kill. One victim was only 11 when she was first abused by Hussain. Justice Secretary David Lammy has overseen the changes in the Sentencing Act 2026, designed to free up space in the overcrowded jails The following year he was convicted of a further charge of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, and handed a seven year sentence to run concurrently. In the wake of the 2016 sentences imposed on Hussain and others, the officer in charge of the investigation Det Ch Insp Martin Tate welcomed the ‘huge, huge sentences’ and said they ‘send a real message out to offenders out there that the courts take this extremely seriously’. Shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan said: ‘The British public will rightly be disgusted by Labour's plans to let rapists and child groomers out of prison early. ‘They were warned repeatedly about the sorts of vile criminals this would allow to walk free from jail and they didn't listen. ‘Victims are now paying the price. ‘This must not be allowed to go ahead. ‘It's an appalling insult to justice for each and every victim.’ The latest case comes after a victim of another child sex grooming gang was told some of her abusers may also be eligible for early release. Fiona Goddard, who was 14 when she was first abused in Bradford, and who has also waived her right to anonymity, said earlier this week her ‘mental health crashed’ when she learned the convicted men could soon be back on the streets. A government spokesman said: ‘The grooming gang scandal was one of the worst of our time. Shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan said Labour's reforms shoudl be blocked, adding they were an 'appalling insult to justice for each and every victim' ‘That is why we made grooming an aggravating factor, so vile criminals face longer sentences, set up an independent inquiry to get to the truth behind years of systemic failure and prosecutions and convictions are now at their highest ever levels. ‘We have been clear that we inherited a prison system on the brink of total collapse. ‘Our swift and decisive action protected the public from utter chaos and the breakdown of the criminal justice system. ‘Our reforms will see prisoners judged the most dangerous by the courts excluded from early release, offenders who misbehave in prison spending longer behind bars and facing some of the toughest ever restrictions on release.’ 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. 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