Six key members of one of Britain’s most notorious grooming gangs have been released early from prison, with two no longer subject to licence conditions, GB News can exclusively reveal. The men, who terrorised vulnerable girls in Oxford between 1998 and 2005, served significantly less than their full sentences despite convictions for rape, indecent assault and false imprisonment.
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that all six men – who were part of a gang that subjected girls aged 13 to 15 to systematic sexual abuse – have been freed. The releases come amid broader concerns about prison overcrowding and early release schemes affecting serious offenders.
The gang operated what prosecutors described as “systematic and widespread grooming” across Oxford for seven years. Victims were plied with drugs and alcohol before being raped and sexually assaulted, often in a Nissan Serena people carrier that became known among the gang’s victims.
“They would pick the girls, have sex with them, and dump them. Everything happened in that Serena,” one victim told the court during the original trial.
Released Offenders
The Ministry of Justice confirmed the following men have been released from prison. Their ages were recorded at the time of sentencing in June 2018:
- Kameer Iqbal, 39, of Oxford – convicted of three counts of rape, sentenced to 12 years
- Khalid Hussain, 38, of Oxford – convicted of rape and indecent assault, sentenced to 12 years
- Kamran Khan, 36, of Bolton – convicted of indecent assault and false imprisonment, sentenced to 8 years
- Raheem Ahmed, 40, of Oxford – convicted of two counts of indecent assault and false imprisonment, sentenced to 12 years
- Alladitta Yousaf, 48, of Oxford – convicted of indecent assault, sentenced to 7 years and 6 months
- Haji Khan, 38, of Oxford – convicted of conspiracy to rape, sentenced to 10 years
Two of the six men are no longer subject to licence conditions, meaning the restrictions and monitoring requirements that typically apply to released offenders have been lifted.
Systematic Abuse
The gang’s crimes emerged as part of Thames Valley Police’s Operation Silk, which revealed the extent of abuse inflicted on vulnerable teenagers. Judge Peter Ross, who presided over the 2018 trial at Oxford Crown Court, described their actions as revealing “systematic and widespread grooming.”
The men befriended vulnerable girls from dysfunctional backgrounds, many in care homes, before subjecting them to horrific abuse. Prosecutors told the court how victims were given alcohol and drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin, to make them dependent on their abusers.
Adrian Foster, the prosecutor in the case, said the gang engaged in “the routine, cynical and predatory sexual exploitation of six vulnerable young girls.” He added that the victims were “used, abused and exploited for the casual sexual gratification and entertainment of the defendants and others.
Prison Release Policy
The early releases occur against a backdrop of significant changes to prison release policies in England and Wales. Under current rules, most prisoners become eligible for release after serving half their sentence, though this was recently reduced to 40% for some offenders to address prison overcrowding.
Justice delayed is justice denied,” Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said regarding delays in prosecuting other grooming gang cases.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has criticised early release schemes, stating: “If convictions are secured, whole life sentences must be handed down — and if they are foreign nationals they must be deported, no ifs or buts.
Victims’ Ordeal
The original trial heard harrowing testimony about the gang’s methods. One victim, known as Girl C, described how her abusers initially treated her “like a princess” before the systematic abuse began when she was 13.
The gang threatened victims and their families with violence if they attempted to escape. Court documents revealed threats to kill victims and their mothers, with one victim told her baby would be decapitated if she tried to leave.
DS Nicola Douglas, the investigating officer, said none of the perpetrators had “admitted their guilt or shown any remorse.” She praised the victims for their courage in coming forward, noting: “The impact of these offences on the victims, their families and relationships cannot be underestimated.
Wider Context
The Oxford case was one of several high-profile grooming gang prosecutions that sparked national debate about child sexual exploitation. A 2015 serious case review found that more than 300 children, mostly girls, could have been groomed and sexually exploited in Oxfordshire between 1999 and 2014.
The report criticised Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council for failing to act on repeated warnings about abuse. It found a culture of denial among professionals who blamed girls for “precocious and difficult behaviour” rather than recognising they had been groomed and controlled.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid responded to the 2018 convictions by saying: “As a father myself, I am glad that this barbaric group of men are finally behind bars. As the Home Secretary, I will do all in my power to leave the callous cowards who groom and sexually abuse children with no place to hide.
Ministry Response
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with all the victims in this despicable case. Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and will be sent back to prison if they break the rules.
The spokesperson did not address specific questions about why two of the men are no longer subject to licence conditions or provide details about the timing of their releases.
Lawrence Newport, director of the Crush Crime campaign, said regarding broader issues with the justice system: “The backlog is a national disgrace. No victim should face years of delays. Government must act and end the backlog. Victims deserve better.”
The early release of these convicted gang members comes as debate continues about grooming gangs across Britain. Recent government data shows a new Grooming Gangs Taskforce arrested over 550 suspects and identified more than 4,000 victims in its first year of operation.
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