Granada Grooming News

The ringleader of a gang of Asian men who groomed young white girls for sex has been jailed for 22 years for a "campaign of rape" against a young Asian girl.

Shabir Ahmed, 59, led a child sex exploitation ring of nine men who targeted vulnerable young girls in the Rochdale and Oldham areas.

He was jailed for 19 years in May following an 11-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.Today he received another prison term - to run concurrently - after he was convicted in June of 30 specimen counts of child rape.

• UK
• grooming
• Rochdale

A report into care-home failings is out today.

The inquiry follows last month's convictions of a child sex grooming gang from Rochdale. Stockport MP Ann Coffey chaired the investigating parliamentary committee.

• UK
• grooming
• crime

"There is an urgent need for all the communities in Rochdale to work together, to tackle this heinous crime."

"Our young children from our borough were abused - and we all have a collective responsibility to ensure we do the best to safeguard our children."

• UK
• heywood
• grooming

A new community forum is being launched in Rochdale today.

It is after nine men were convicted of grooming girls as young as 13 for sex in Heywood, near Rochdale.

Speakers at the launch event today will include Pater Fahy, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Nazir Afzal, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West and Rochdale Imam Irfan Chishti.

• UK
• heywood
• grooming

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk gives his reaction to the news nine men have been arrested in connection with a second sexual grooming inquiry in Rochdale.

• UK
• grooming
• Danczuk