Man, 38, Who Headed Sex Group, Preyed On 100 Girls Loses Bid For Parole

Ahdel “Eddie” Ali, the jailed leader of a grooming ring that forced its victims into prostitution, has lost his bid for parole.

The sex group preyed on 100 girls, with some as young as 13, and the victims were given food, alcohol and money, reported The Sun. The trafficking operation was run by him, his brother Mubarek and five other men, from 2006 to 2009 in Telford, Shropshire in England.

According to Daily Nation Today, Ali, now 38 years, was sentenced to 26 years in jail in 2012. The married man was released from the license in 2020. He served eight years at the time, but was recalled in 2021 for violating conditions. In July, he gave evidence to a hearing then a decision was made the following month.

The Parole Board said that decisions are focused on risk to the public and whether that is "manageable in the community.” The board further said that a panel will carefully "examine a huge range of evidence." It includes details of the original crime, and "any evidence of behavior change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims."

Before being able to apply for parole again, Ali will now serve at least another two years.

In 2020, he was freed following the release of his brother in 2017. Mubarek was also recalled to prison a year later for breaching the terms of his licence. At the time of Ali's release, local Member of Parliament Lucy Allan had confirmed the news. The Conservative politician had previously been critical of the way the authorities handled the release of Mubarek, reported Metro.

She had said that on the occasion the authorities handled the matter correctly, informing relevant parties, including "victims, of the tagging and the exclusion from the local area." She had shared that she was concerned that the law still "allows for early release of serious sexual offenders, however, since the sentencing of Ahdel Ali and Mubarak Ali the law has changed to prevent this in future and I am proud to have played my part in this change in the law."

According to the Home Office, Telford has the third highest number of child sexual offences recorded in the UK. It is just behind Blackpool and Rotherham.

The Ministry of Justice previously said that serious sex offenders released on licence are "closely monitored." They can be returned to jail if they "breach strict conditions such as curfews and exclusion zones."