Grooming gang ringleader at centre of deportation row released

A grooming gang leader at the centre of a deportation row has been released from prison, it is understood.

Shabir Ahmed served 14 years for multiple rape and sexual offences against young girls in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

There had been calls to deport the 73-year-old but documents published online, apparently sent from the Probation Service to one of his victims, state he cannot be deported back to Pakistan due to a 55-year-old law that bars his removal.

Sir Keir Starmer has now asked Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to review the case amid calls for the law to be changed to allow him to be deported.

Ahmed has been stripped of his British citizenship, leaving him with only Pakistani nationality, but he is unable to be deported due to a 1971 law that forbids the removal of a small group of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.

Downing Street said the prime minister had asked Ms Mahmood to consider options for ensuring Ahmed's deportation, describing his case as "particularly heinous".

In a statement, Number 10 said: "We are absolutely clear that where foreign nationals commit offences in the UK we will do everything in our power to remove them."

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

(c) Sky News 2026: Grooming gang ringleader at centre of deportation row released