Whistleblower ‘terrified’ as Rochdale grooming gang leader released

The leader of Rochdale's notorious grooming gang is being released, triggering deep concern from the whistleblower who exposed him. Sara Rowbotham, a former council worker whose investigation led to Shabir Ahmed and eight others being imprisoned, told the Guardian she's terrified by his release. She's pointing to what she calls a weak probation service as a risk to women and girls. Local politicians share her alarm about public safety oversight. Her warnings highlight ongoing anxieties about how serious offenders are managed after release.

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