Two members of a sex grooming gang in Rochdale have lost a long-running appeal against being deported to Pakistan.
51-year-old Adil Khan and 52-year-old Qari Abdul Rauf were part of a nine-member gang that groomed dozens of girls for sex in the Greater Manchester town for two years in the late 2000s, before they were eventually convicted for child sex offences back in May 2012.
The gang operated for two years from 2008, and were found to have been plying girls as young as 12 with alcohol and drugs and gang-raping them at various locations – sometimes “pimping” them out for money.
As many as 47 girls were abused, according to Greater Manchester Police.
Among the convictions, Khan got a 13-year-old girl pregnant, but denied he was the father, and then met another girl, 15, and trafficked her for others to abuse, often using violence when she complained, while father-of-five Rauf trafficked a 15-year-old girl and drove her to secluded areas to sexually abuse her in his taxi, and then move her to a flat in Rochdale where he and others abused her.
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All nine men were jailed for their part in the gang.
After being freed from jail in 2014 and 2016 respectively, Rauf and Khan then began a long campaign to try and avoid being deported from UK to Pakistan after their British citizenship was revoked, citing article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights – which is the right to a private and family life.
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Khan had argued at his last hearing in June that he shouldn’t be deported because his son needed a role model, and lawyers for the pair also argued they were “stateless” due to the fact they had certificates showing renouncement their Pakistani citizenship.
But immigration judges ruled their challenge against deportation on human rights grounds had failed.
Judges said Khan had shown a “breathtaking lack of remorse”, and that there was a “very strong public interest” in both men being kicked out, in a decision that was made in August and has been released publicly today.
Home Office lawyers argued that the case had taken a “very long time” to get to this point, and it was now in the public interest to deport both men “as soon as possible”.
In April, Greater Manchester Police apologised to three victims, with the police force admitting that officers “could and should have done much more” to protect them and that “we let you down,” – but campaigners criticised the apology for being “10 years too late”.
Featured Image – GMP
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BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
Daisy Jackson
The BBC has issued a statement after alarming people across the UK with a weather forecast of hurricane force winds and temperatures of up to 400°C.
Mancs woke up this morning stunned to see predicted wind speeds of up to 14,000mph.
The alarming weather report hit the BBC Weather app today while Hurricane Milton batters Florida across the pond.
One person shared on X: “I guess we need to batten down the hatches with 26,898 mph winds today.”
Another asked: “Why isn’t this forecast making the news? 14,712mph wind sounds dangerous to me!! I’m going back to bed.”
But now the BBC has rushed to reassure people not to be ‘alarmed’ at the prospect of the entire island blowing away.
BBC presenter and meteorologist Simon King shared: “Oops, don’t be alarmed by some of our @bbcweather app data this morning.
— Barefoot Spooky Bartender 👣💀🍹 (@barefoottiki) October 10, 2024
“Be assured there won’t be 14408mph winds, hurricane force winds or overnight temperatures of 404°C.
“It is being looked at and hopefully sorted asap.”
BBC Weather shared: “You may have noticed some data issues on our app and website. We are working hard to fix it quickly. Sorry – please bear with us.
“In the meantime here are Thursday’s weather headlines: -Colder, clearer air moving in -Rain and drizzle in south -Blustery showers near east coast”
And national treasure Carol Kirkwood said live on air: “We are having a technical glitch at the moment. It’s showing wind speeds far too fast, in fact, hurricane strength and that is not the case at all.
“Please don’t be alarmed. We are aware of it and on it.”
At the time of writing, the BBC Weather forecast service is still predicting hurricane force winds for the UK. Eek.
BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
New 44-storey skyscraper proposed that could change one of Manchester’s most famous views
Emily Sergeant
Plans for a massive new 44-storey residential skyscraper in the heart of the city centre have been revealed.
But does this mean it could change one Manchester‘s most famous views?
Located on what has been referred to as a “prominent site” adjacent to Deansgate train station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop at Whitworth Street West, these dramatic proposals would see the development of 364 apartments set over 44 storeys – with more 7,750 sq ft of active space on the ground, first, and second floor levels.
Developers Glenbrook say the building has been designed to “respond to the city’s heritage”, most-notably through its three-storey arched terracotta colonnade at street level.
Well-lit new green spaces, the enhancing of existing pedestrian routes, and seamless integration with the surrounding communities, all form part of the landscaping proposals for the bold new project.
“As a Manchester-based developer, we are excited about the prospect of embarking on a landmark development in the heart of our city, admitted Daniel Roberts, who is the Development Director at Glenbrook, as the proposals were unveiled this week.
“Whitworth Street West is undergoing a period of revitalisation, and Glenbrook are incredibly proud to be playing such an integral part in its future.”
A CGI of a proposed skyscraper on Whitworth Street West in Manchester / Credit: Glenbrook
A public consultation on the plans has now been launched, and will be live up until 28 October, as well as a dedicated in-person event, where representatives from Glenbrook and the design team will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback, scheduled to take place at HOME MCR on First Street from 3:30-7:30pm on 15 October.
Residents, businesses, and interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to view the plans in detail, and provide their thoughts on the proposals.
The view of what Whitworth Street West currently looks like in October 2024 / Credit: The Manc Group
According to developers, the feedback gathered during the consultation will play a key role in shaping the final planning application – which will be submitted to the Manchester City Council in the coming months, and ultimately ensure the development meets the needs of the community.
The Manc -
27th October 2022 
