A notorious grooming gang ringleader who the Prime Minister helped put in jail cannot be deported back to Pakistan after winning a human rights battle.
As Director of Public Prosecutions between 2008 and 2013 – before entering politics – Sir Keir Starmer insists he tackled Asian child abuse rings ‘head on’.
Among those jailed was Abdul Aziz, known as ‘The Master’ by fellow members of the infamous Rochdale grooming gang locked up for a total of 77 years in 2012.
They were brought to justice after the future PM appointed Nazir Afzal as chief crown prosecutor for North West England.
After reviewing the file, in 2011 Mr Afzal overturned the original Crown Prosecution Service decision not to put the men on trial on the grounds that the main victim was ‘unreliable’.
Four of the abusers faced being deported after being freed from jail as they had dual British-Pakistani citizenship.
However the Mail later revealed how Aziz – now 54 – cannot be thrown out of the country because he renounced his Pakistani citizenship in 2018.
He did so five days before the Court of Appeal threw out a bid by the taxi driver and two other members of the gang against being stripped of British nationality.
Pictured: Abdul Aziz, known as ‘The Master’ by fellow members of the infamous Rochdale grooming gang
As Director of Public Prosecutions between 2008 and 2013, Sir Keir Starmer insists he tackled Asian child abuse rings ‘head on’
Adil Khan and Qari Abdul Rauf, both now 55, also renounced their Pakistani citizenship – but only after the court case.
However, despite losing appeals against deportation both also remain living in Rochdale after claims they would be rendered ‘stateless’.
Rauf – understood to have working for a takeaway delivery app – was this year branded ‘a monster’ by shocked neighbours.
Aziz ferried victims to sex parties as far away as Leeds and Bradford.
He was convicted of trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and jailed for nine years.
A fourth member of the gang, 72-year-old Shabir Ahmed, did not contest being stripped of his British citizenship, it is understood.
He is the only member still behind bars, serving a 22-year sentence.
