'Rochdale lads' assemble to 'protect town's streets from rape gang ringleader' after he's set free from prison

A group of "Rochdale lads" have assembled to patrol the town's streets after a notorious rape gang ringleader was freed from prison.

Shabir Ahmed, 73, convicted of 30 child rape offences as the head of a grooming gang, was released on Thursday.

The vile Ahmed, known as "Daddy" to his victims, had his British citizenship stripped after his convictions, but cannot be deported due to a loophole in the Immigration Act 1971.

Local campaigner Billy Howarth has now gathered a group to patrol the area, with police on standby.

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Mr Howarth, a member of Parents Against Grooming UK, said some of his victims were not leaving their homes after learning of his release.

"He wasn't just a child rapist - he is the devil incarnate," he told The Telegraph. "He must be kept in jail or deported - no questions asked. What I’ve managed to do is get a s--tload of Rochdale lads together as rapid response... [Residents] will be protected."

He added: "I want a security guard paid for by the Government outside their house until they feel safe.

"I believe they should have either manned security or a police officer outside their homes at all times."

One of his victims said she now feared for both her safety and her children's safety.

She warned that even if Ahmed is not in the Rochdale area "he still knows people and could contact them, which makes me feel unsafe".

"I’ve been hurt and failed again. After saying this wouldn't happen, there’s just constant failings, and nothing can be done about it," she added.

Maggie Oliver, the victim's representative, said Greater Manchester Police had been approached to request personal safety mechanisms.

Ms Oliver said there was "no public institution that takes on board the needs of a victim", admitting that it was not really the responsibility of the police to provide protection.

She added that the victim was "not in a good place", with fear over Ahmed's release "consuming her every waking moment".

MORE ON THE GROOMING GANG CRISIS:

• 'What hope do we have!?' Zia Yusuf despairs over failure to deport ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang
• Labour urged to use 'every sanction in the book' to deport Rochdale grooming gang ringleader
• Kemi Badenoch demands Labour to ‘get behind’ calls to deport grooming gang ringleader released from jail

Jim McMahon, the Labour MP for Oldham, and Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale, have both called for a change to the Immigration Act 1971 to allow foreign-born child rapists to be deported.

Mr Waugh, writing for GB News, admitted the law was "written for a different era and a different purpose".

He added: "For too long, the victims of grooming gangs have carried the burden of institutional failure. We owe them more than sympathy. We owe them action."

And Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told Britain's News Channel: "He should be urgently deported back to his country of original nationality and birth, which is Pakistan.

"The Government should get on and do that straight away. These kind of people should not be allowed to stay in our country."

Mr Philp added that the Tories would "get rid of the ECHR" and implement a "zero-tolerance" policy for foreign criminals.

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, forced to wear an electronic tag. Should he breach his conditions, he will be immediately locked up."

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