Andy Burnham 'personally intervenes' after fears Bradford grooming gang could be released early due to loophole

Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, after ministers excluded rapists and “serious” child sex offenders.

Andy Burnham’s Government is “urgently” identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release as concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system.

The Prime Minister has “personally intervened” to ensure that “everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve”, a spokesperson said yesterday.

Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers excluded rapists and “serious” child sex offenders from the scheme designed to tackle overcrowding in jails.

But critics have questioned the scope of exemptions after The Times reported that some men convicted in relation to historical grooming gang cases could be among those freed under the plans.

Some of the offending took place before sexual abuse laws were changed in 2003 and the perpetrators were charged with crimes including indecent assault, which does not fall within the exclusions to the scheme starting in October.

The Times reported that five men jailed in connection with a Bradford grooming gang, who abused a girl in care from the age of 13 in the early 2000s, could be eligible for early release.

Mohammed Imran Akram, Safraz Ahmed Latif, Wajid Hussain, Mohammed Naheem and Nadeem Ali were convicted of indecent assault and sentenced to between six and eight years in jail last year.

This means that some of them could be freed by the end of 2028, or earlier if they are eligible under the early release scheme.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “You didn't just take my childhood, you destroyed it."

She added: "I don't know how I have survived the trauma of the past six years," admitting that she had considered taking her own life.

In a statement yesterday, a spokesperson for Mr Burnham said: “As part of the review of sentences, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Justice to conduct an in-depth review of cases to ensure that grooming cases were identified.

“This work is happening urgently. This is extremely important to the PM and he has personally intervened to ensure everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve.”