Victim of Bradford child sex grooming gang blasts Starmer as her abusers prepare for early release from jail under Labour's 'soft justice' masterplan

By DAVID BARRETT, HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR Published: 17:43, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 17:46, 17 June 2026 A victim of a child sex grooming gang has blasted Sir Keir Starmer as her abusers prepare for early release from jail under Labour’s ‘soft justice’ masterplan. Fiona Goddard, who has waived her right to anonymity, said her ‘mental health crashed’ when she learned the convicted men were being lined up for early release. Miss Goddard was 14 and living in a children's home in Bradford when the grooming and abuse began during the late 2000s. In a video posted to her account on X, formerly Twitter, she said she had been notified by officials that three members of the gang are due to be freed early from jail in the coming months, with two more following next year. In all, nine men from Bradford and Dewsbury, West Yorks, were jailed in February 2019 for their roles in abusing Ms Goddard and another girl.  (From top left, clockwise) Basharat Khaliq, Saeed Akhtar, Naveed Akhtar, Parvaze Ahmed, Zeeshan Ali, Fahim Iqbal, Izar Hussain, Mohammed Usman and Kieran Harris were all jailed at Bradford Crown Court in 2019 Miss Goddard said Mohammed Usman, who was jailed for 17 years reduced to 15 on appeal, will be eligible for early release in August. Also due to be freed in the coming months are Izar Hussain, who was found guilty of rape and jailed for 16 years, and Kieran Harris, who was found guilty of two counts of rape and jailed for 17 years. Miss Goddard said she had been informed two other men jailed for 17 years for rape - Naveed Akhtar and Parvaze Ahmed – are set to be released next year. Victim Fiona Goddard , who has waived her right to anonymity, said she had been notified by officials that members of the grooming gang will be eligible for early release from jail under Labour's reforms The releases could come even earlier, Miss Goddard said, as she had been told they may be eligible after serving just one third of their sentence rather than half. Ms Goddard said in the video: ‘It's astounding that this is allowed to happen, and that people can get such lenient sentences for the most atrocious sexual violence. She went on: ‘Due to the Sentencing Act 2026 my abusers’ … sentences are being reviewed to see whether they can be released after 33 per cent of their sentences … which is adding insult to injury. Fiona Goddard said it was 'astounding' that abusers can get 'such lenient sentences for the most atrocious sexual violence' ‘I have to now sit until August worried about whether all of my abusers will be out by the end of this year, which is astounding. ‘When I first heard the 16 and 20 year sentences read out in court I was so happy. ‘I thought I can rebuild my life, I can get on with stuff, and then the reality is they are out in just seven to eight years. ‘It feels like a very big slap in the face, and I know I am not the only victim of rape going through this.’ She said: ‘Not sure this will surprise many but Keir Starmer is a bare-faced liar.’ During the passage of Labour’s sentencing reforms the Conservatives tried to force a House of Commons vote to exclude perpetrators of crimes such as sexual assault, rape and child grooming, but were overruled by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. They also fought the Government’s proposals to apply early release retrospectively, so that prisoners such as the Bradford grooming gang would not be eligible. Shadow Justice Minister Dr Kieran Mullan said: ‘We warned every single MP that these plans would lead to thousands of the worst offenders responsible for horrific crimes against women and girls getting out of prison early. ‘We gave them every opportunity to exclude them from the plans but in the end Labour and the Liberal Democrats worked together to force them through. ‘That means victims of horrific crimes, just like Fiona, up and down the country, are receiving letters nobody would want to receive telling them their perpetrator is getting out of prison early. ‘They might have mentally prepared for them leaving prison potentially years in the future because that is what they were told would happen. ‘Now they have to be retraumatised and face a very different reality. Shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan said victims were being 'retraumatised' ‘Of course it also means these people are going to be out on the streets free to offend earlier than they would have been.’ He added: ‘The Government are so cowardly that they won’t even tell the public how many people are getting out and what crimes they have committed, covering up the data.’ A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘This Government inherited a prison system in crisis and we are fixing it – building 14,000 more prison places and reforming sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous criminals. ‘Without this decisive action, prisons would’ve run out of space entirely, putting the public at untold risk. ‘Under our changes, prisoners who misbehave can face longer behind bars and those convicted of the most serious crimes will be excluded from earlier release. ‘We’re also strengthening supervision in the community – investing £700million into probation, recruiting 1,300 additional probation officers this year, and ensuring every prison leaver is tagged unless there is clear reason not to.’ No comments have so far been submitted. 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