A convicted child sex offender from the notorious Rochdale grooming gang has absconded from the UK, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.
Adil Khan, one of the men convicted in 2012 for grooming and abusing underage girls in Rochdale, has left the country while still subject to Home Office deportation proceedings. Khan, who was jailed for eight years and later released on licence, had been stripped of his British citizenship and was appealing against deportation to Pakistan.
In a statement issued to Roch Valley Radio, a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said:
“We've regularly conducted compliance checks with Adil Khan since he was released from prison. On our most recent visit on 21 October, he was not there and our enquiries have since established he has left the country. We are working alongside the Home Office in our efforts to locate him.”
Khan, now 55, was one of nine men convicted for systematically grooming and sexually exploiting girls as young as 13. During his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the court heard he impregnated a 15-year-old girl and trafficked another for sex, using threats and violence.
Despite the severity of his crimes, Khan had continued to maintain his innocence, claiming during his immigration tribunal appeal that there was “a big story” behind his conviction. However, a previous challenge against his criminal conviction was dismissed by the High Court.
His appeal against deportation focused on his right to family life under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act. Khan was granted British citizenship after marrying a Pakistani woman in the UK, and they have a young son together.
The Home Office has not confirmed when exactly Khan fled the UK or under what circumstances, but his disappearance during a live deportation case has raised significant concerns around monitoring and enforcement.
Khan is one of several members of the Rochdale grooming gang fighting deportation. Appeals by Shabir Ahmed and Abdul Rauf were heard alongside Khan’s, with Abdul Aziz’s appeal due to resume at a later date. Judges have reserved their decisions on the cases, with outcomes expected to be announced soon.
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