Grooming gang members who sexually abused girls may be freed under early release scheme in ‘another betrayal to victims’

GROOMING gang members who sexually abused teen girls could be freed under Labour’s early release scheme in another “betrayal to victims.” A number of men who were members of Asian gangs that abused children in Bradford may be turned loose in the coming years. Mohammed Imran Akram was a member of a grooming gang Credit: West Yorkshire Police Safraz Latif may be released early under Labour’s scheme Credit: West Yorkshire Police Because they committed their offences before anti-grooming laws were introduced in 2003 the men were charged and jailed for indecent assault. It means they do not fall within the exemptions of early release announced by the Prime Minister, The Times reports. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Five men who were jailed last October for a collective 35 years after they abused a girl from the age of 13 are among those eligible for release. Mohammed Imran Akram, Safraz Ahmed Latif, Wajid Hussain, Mohammed Naheem and Nadeem Ali were all found guilty on various counts of indecent assault. Wajid Hussain was convicted for indecent assault Credit: West Yorkshire Police Mohammed Naheem may be eligible for early release despite being a member of a grooming gang Credit: West Yorkshire Police They were each sentenced to between six and eight years in 2025, meaning some of them could be freed in 2028 because they are not classed as serious sexual offenders. After the trial the victim said the men had taken away “my basic rights and stole my future.” New Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing growing backlash after only excluding rapists and the most serious sex offenders from early release. The scheme was paused when it was revealed the killers of hero PC Andrew Harper would be among those freed. Most read in The Sun But following a review, soft-justice plans to free Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole halfway through their 13-year jail terms were not changed. This means the two thugs could be let out on the streets in a matter of months. Furious widow Lissie Harper, 35, said: “This is disgusting. I’m beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear Andrew’s killers are soon to be free. “The level of disrespect the Government are showing to Andrew and other victims, and their loved ones such as me, is beyond contempt.” A Police Federation chief has now revealed they are poised to take legal action unless Mr Burnham reverses the decision. Thames Valley chair Aileen O’Connor called the ruling “an insult to Andrew’s family, friends and colleagues” and said “Andy Burnham may be on his holidays but we won’t rest on this.” The PM paused the scheme after it was revealed PC Andrew Harper’s killers would be among those freed Credit: PA Mr Burnham is now facing fresh backlash after it was revealed grooming gang members could be released Credit: AP After pausing the scheme last month, Andy Burnham promised no prisoners would be freed until an urgent review was carried out. Ministers examined the early release policy and went ahead with it, but prevented serious sexual abusers and rapists from being turned loose. The decision has sparked fury as it was revealed serious criminals – including grooming gang members – would still be let out after only serving half of their sentence with a loophole leaving them eligible. Kemi Badenoch wrote to the PM to highlight the issue that allows members of grooming gangs to be set free. She branded it “yet another betrayal of victims.” The Tory leader said: “On Tuesday, you told the country that those convicted of grooming offences would be excluded. “Your own government has now put in writing that some of these men will be released early anyway.” The Ministry of Justice said: “We have been clear that we wanted to go further and block more offenders from getting out sooner into their sentence, but could not do so without risking prisons reaching capacity and collapsing. “If that happened, police could not make arrests, courts could not remand offenders and there would be unchecked criminality.” It comes after it was revealed that some 9,000 domestic abusers are set to be let out of prison under Labour’s early release scheme. According to the Conservatives 3,000 domestic abuse perpetrators a year could be turned loose to roam the streets. However, Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy branded the move “disgraceful.” Andy Burnham’s own backbenches turned on him over the move, with Stoke-on-Trent MP Allison Gardner saying the prospect of abusers being let loose is “frightening” for victims. In response to the Conservative claim of 9,000 domestic abusers being up for release, an MoJ spokesperson said: “This is a speculative figure. “It wrongly assumes prison population and sentencing patterns will remain unchanged throughout Parliament, while also counting people who have not yet committed offences.” Comment now