A convicted paedophile who led the Rochdale grooming gang has constructed a property in his native Pakistan whilst claiming £285,000 in taxpayer-funded legal aid to fight deportation from Britain.
Qari Abdul Rauf, 55, built the house in his home village of Charhoi in Pakistan-administered Kashmir despite maintaining he has renounced his Pakistani nationality and would be rendered stateless if deported.
The father-of-five was released after serving just two-and-a-half years of a six-year sentence for his role in the sexual assault of 47 girls, some as young as 12.
More than a decade after being told he would be deported following his 2014 release, Rauf continues to reside in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Abdul Rauf arriving at Liverpool Crown Court in 2012
PA
Rauf was part of a nine-member Asian gang whose 2012 conviction shocked Britain and prompted years of campaigning by victims.
Following pressure from those affected and national media, including GB News, Sir Keir Starmer launched a full national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The trial revealed how Rauf, previously regarded as a respected religious figure who recited from the Koran, trafficked a 15-year-old girl for sex.
He drove her to isolated locations to abuse her in his taxi.
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Abdul Rauf built the house in his home village of Charhoi in Pakistan-administered Kashmir
PAThe 55-year-old was also responsible for transporting her to a Rochdale flat where multiple men assaulted her.
Residents near his terraced house in Rochdale report being frightened to let their children outside.
Angie Harrison, 45, a mother of two young daughters, said: "He has loads of people there, having parties, and we don't like the look of the people who come."
Rauf lost his 2018 appeal against being stripped of British nationality but continues fighting deportation, claiming he would face danger in Pakistan due to "public opinion of the criminal conviction".
Abdul Rauf was released after serving just two-and-a-half years of a six-year sentence for his role in the sexual assault of 47 girls
PA
However, villagers in Charhoi contradicted this assertion.
One resident said: "Since they are influential and financially strong people in their street, this topic was not much discussed."
The property Rauf built was initially occupied by his elder brother, who later vacated at his children's request.
Despite losing his deportation case, Rauf works as a takeaway delivery driver in Rochdale, as Pakistan refuses to accept him without valid travel documents.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy is reportedly leading discussions with Pakistan to secure Rauf's return, alongside fellow gang member Adil Khan, 55, who also remains in Rochdale.
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