BANNED: Child sex gang leader Mubarek Ali can't return to Telford or Shrewsbury when he leaves prison
One of the ringleaders of a Telford child sex grooming gang will not be allowed to return to the Telford or Shrewsbury area upon his release, it has been revealed.
Mubarek Ali will be under "a stringent set of licence conditions", according to a briefing released by HM Prison and Probation Service.
The service has said its contact with the victims affected by the grooming gang snared under Operation Chalice is "ongoing" and that the views of those affected would be considered when imposing appropriate licence conditions.
Ali is set to be freed from prison in November, after serving about five years behind bars.
Also known as Max, he was named as one of the ringleaders of the gang, following a police investigation dubbed Operation Chalice, and saw victims as young as 12.
The investigation revealed details of a network of men from who targeted young and vulnerable teenage girls.
After West Mercia Police’s investigation into suspected under-age sex and child prostitution, seven men were finally convicted at Worcester Crown Court in 2013, after cases stretching over two years, including Mubarek, 34, of Regent Street Wellington, who was given 22 years, 14 years immediate custody and eight years on licence, for seven offences – four of controlling child prostitution, causing child prostitution and two offences of trafficking in the UK for the purpose of prostitution, involving two of the victims.
He was also made the subject of a lifelong sexual offences prevention order.
The court heard the young girls were offered cash, gifts and free car journeys before being taken to a restaurant to have sex.
Five other men were also convicted relating to child prostitution in the town.
Ali’s release was triggered automatically and at no time was the parole board involved in the decision to allow him to be freed in November.
But a new briefing from the probation service says that he will be under strict license on his release, preventing him from having any contact with victims.
The briefing says: "Partner agencies like Telford & Wrekin Council, West Mercia Police and the National Probation Service had no involvement in the process of Mr Ali’s sentencing and his impending release is simply as a result of rules that are in place imposed by the Criminal Justice system.
"The council strongly agree with public opinion that Mr Ali should serve his sentence behind bars and will continue to work in partnership to support victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and to ensure our door is open for any vulnerable person that feels they are at risk.
"Whilst this is a prime responsibility of the National Probation Service in conjunction with the prison, this will remain sensitive to the concerns of local residents in general, and the victims of Mr Ali’s offences in particular.
"There will be a stringent set of licence conditions which will include residence in Approved Premises, a structured and managed environment, away from the Telford and Shrewsbury area. He will be seen weekly by the NPS Offender Manager, and daily with frequency within the Approved Premises by staff.
"Initial contact was undertaken by the Victim Liaison Officer of the National Probation Service with the identified victims under the Victim Contact Scheme following sentence in 2012. This contact remains ongoing. Under the Victim Contact Scheme work will be undertaken in relation to Mr Ali’s release, including consideration of appropriate licence conditions.
"He will be monitored 24/7. Above the standard conditions of licence there will be a raft of additional detailed conditions which must be proportionate, lawful and necessary in order to protect the public. There is also a condition imposed which prevents him having contact with victims, witnesses and co-defendants."
