Ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang given equalities role at 'monster mansion' jail in move blasted as 'unbelievable'

The ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang has been made an 'equalities representative' in prison. Shabir Ahmed, who urged his victims to call him 'Daddy', is serving a 22 year sentence after committing vile sexual crimes against children in the town.

It has now emerged that the 69-year-old has been appointed 'equalities representative' at HMP Wakefield, a maximum security jailed often dubbed 'monster mansion' due to its housing of sex offenders and high profile criminals. Ahmed, a former taxi driver, once claimed his convictions represented a conspiracy to ‘scapegoat’ Muslims.

The Prison Service said the post is intended to 'improve the behaviour' of prisoners. But Maggie Oliver, a former GMP detective who resigned in disgust over the handling of sexual abuse in the town, described the move as 'unbelievable'.

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The role is believed to involve gathering views from prisoners and liaising with officers. "I just think its another example of how there is no real common sense," she told the Manchester Evening News .

"It is really unbelievable that somebody like him should go anywhere near being an equalities officer. He showed himself right from the start, that he is I would say racist in the extreme. There is no way he understands what equality even is.

"It shows for me a lack of judgement from the authorities that runs right through that case. It is another example of them appeasing real criminals just to keep them happy and quiet, and I just don't agree with it."

Ahmed was convicted of two counts of rape, one sex assault, trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child. He