Shabir Ahmed, one of the men convicted over the Rochdale child sexual exploitation scandal, is expected to be released from prison in July 2026 under strict licence conditions, according to correspondence sent to a victim through the Victim Contact Scheme.
The correspondence says he will be subject to an exclusion zone covering Rochdale Borough, a non-contact condition and supervised accommodation after his release.
Ahmed was jailed in 2012 after being convicted of multiple rape and child sexual abuse offences. He was identified by prosecutors as a leading figure in the group of men convicted of sexually exploiting girls in Rochdale and the surrounding area.
A BBC report published at the time said Ahmed received a further 22 year prison sentence for 30 child rape offences. That sentence ran concurrently with an earlier 19 year prison term imposed after convictions linked to the wider Rochdale grooming gang investigation.
Correspondence seen by Roch Valley Radio and sent through the Victim Contact Scheme states Ahmed's expected release date is 2 July 2026.
The email says he will remain subject to a licence until 10 June 2034.
According to the correspondence, his licence conditions include an exclusion zone covering the Borough of Rochdale and a non contact condition for the duration of his licence.
The correspondence also states Ahmed will be required to live in a 24 hour staffed placement after his release. It says arrangements are in place for the accommodation provider to contact local police if safeguarding concerns arise involving victims linked to the scheme.
The correspondence also addresses Ahmed's immigration status.
It states the Home Office has advised that he cannot be deported because legal protections under the Immigration Act 1971 apply in his case. The explanation provided says he is a Pakistani national who arrived in the United Kingdom before 1973 and had lived in the country for the qualifying period before deportation was considered.
The correspondence further states Ahmed has been deprived of British citizenship following unsuccessful legal proceedings challenging that decision. It adds that immigration detention cannot lawfully be used because removal from the United Kingdom is not legally possible.
The email says specialist legal advice has been obtained on the case and concludes that all available legal routes relating to deportation have been explored.
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.”
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