MP welcomes Telford offender's town ban

Lucy Allan has welcomed the news from HM Prison and Probation Service who said that Ali will be under a stringent set of licence conditions.

Ma Allan had raised her concerns with the Home Secretary and Justice Minister after it emerged earlier this year that Ali would be released in November after serving just 5 years of his sentence.

Ali, formerly of Regents Street in Wellington, will no longer be able to return to Telford or Shrewsbury, and will be prevented from having contact with those involved in the case.

She said: “I am pleased that Mubarek Ali won’t be allowed to return to Telford or the wider Shropshire area when he is released in November.

“I am also glad that the probation Service has been in contact with the victims affected by the grooming gang and are considering their views when imposing licensing conditions.

“Ali will reside in approved premises away from the Telford and Shrewsbury area. He will also be monitored 24/7 and will not be able to have any contact with victims, witnesses and co-defendants.

“This is a step in the right direction and will ensure that victims are kept as safe as possible. I will continue to monitor the situation closely as events unfold.”

Ali, also known as Max, 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, 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 briefing from the probation service released last week says that he will be under strict license on his release, preventing him from having any contact with victims.

HMPPS has said “public protection” is its top priority, as details of restrictions on Ali were released.