Link to Rochdale rapist

THE notorious Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed, and his links to Oldham and the council were also investigated as part of the review, which uncovered ‘serious failures’ in how authorities dealt with the predator, writes Charlotte Green.

Later sexual abuse by Ahmed could have been prevented if earlier ‘offending behaviour’ and the threat he posed to children had been properly addressed, the review concluded.

The report found there was a significant allegation of child sexual abuse made in 2005 against Ahmed.

This occurred three years before the later widespread grooming and gang rape in Rochdale, which also saw abused girls let down by police and social services.

Known as ‘daddy’ by his victims, he was found guilty of two rapes, aiding and abetting rape, sexual assault and trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment. In June 2012, he was found guilty of a further 30 rape charges and was jailed for an additional 22 years, adding three years to his overall prison term.

Ahmed had worked at Oldham council between 1988 and 2006 and was employed as a welfare rights officer seconded to the Oldham Pakistani Community Centre.

This role would have meant that he would ‘potentially have had contact with a range of vulnerable adults and their children’.

The review team said they believed there were ‘serious failings in how both the council and Greater Manchester Police investigated concerns’ in respect of Ahmed while allegations of child sexual assault were being levelled at him during his employment as a welfare officer.