A leading member of a 15-man Asian grooming gang, which “systematically” sexually abused teenage girls, could be released early from prison.
Haaris Ahmed was part of a gang which terrorised young girls in Halifax and Bradford by plying them with drink and drugs before sexually abusing them.
The abuse took place against two young girls between 2009 and 2011.
Ahmed was 32 when jailed in 2016 for 12-and-a-half years after being found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child and the supply of class B drugs.
Now, just nine years on, he has been referred to the Parole Board.
Experts will now look at his case and could decide to release him or send the case to a full hearing. They could also reject it.
A hearing would hear evidence about the progress he has made in prison and the attitudes he holds about his offending.
Haaris Ahmed was part of a gang which terrorised young girls in Halifax and Bradford by plying them with drink and drugs before sexually abusing them
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WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
A Parole Board spokesman told GB News: “Haaris Ahmed is currently referred but no hearing is listed.”
The gang was sentenced over three separate trials at Leeds Crown Court.
The main victim was aged just 13 when she was first abused. She was said to have come from a “chaotic” family background and had become addicted to drugs during the period of the attacks.
She was eventually taken into social care. The victim later went on to start a new life.
The 15-man Asian grooming gang ‘systematically’ sexually abused teenage girls
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WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
Now 21, she is living with her baby, miles away from Calderdale.
West Yorkshire Police said the case was “the largest and longest-running investigation into child sexual exploitation in Calderdale”.
“It led to a major investigation with police conducting nearly 60 hours of interviews with two victims. Detectives also processed 1,848 statements, 2,963 exhibits and more than 20,000 items of disclosure,” the force said.
Amy Clowrey, a solicitor at law firm Switalskis, told GB News that Ahmed’s parole shows sentences for grooming abusers are far too lenient.
The main victim was aged just 13 when she was first abused. She was said to have come from a “chaotic” family background and had become addicted to drugs during the period of the attacks
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GB NEWS“The use of concurrent sentencing has allowed perpetrators to serve multiple sentences simultaneously, significantly reducing the time spent in custody.
“This undermines the gravity of their crimes and the suffering endured by survivors.
“To then be able to apply for parole is another knock back for survivors.”
Ms Clowrey, who has secured compensation for victims of abuse gangs after they were failed by the authorities, added: “Survivors place their trust in the justice system, yet they are often left feeling betrayed when abusers are released early or receive sentences that do not reflect the severity of their actions.
“These developments can have a devastating impact on survivors’ mental health and sense of safety.
The gang was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court
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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS“The harshness of the system and lack of support puts off many victims from pursuing police complaints. Only with better support can we achieve a higher conviction rate.”
Ms Clowrey said that victims needed a “more robust and consistent approach to sentencing in cases of child sexual exploitation.”
“Authorities must also ensure that survivors receive comprehensive, wraparound support—especially when new developments arise. Their protection, wellbeing, and dignity must be at the heart of every decision.”