The deputy leader of Oldham council has denied claims he provided a reference to notorious Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed, branding them ‘categorically untrue’.
Ahmed, and his links to Oldham and the council were investigated as part of the recently published review looking into child sexual exploitation in the borough, which uncovered ‘serious failures’ in how authorities dealt with the predator. At a chaotic meeting of the full council on Wednesday night, Councillor Abdul Jabbar addressed allegations directed at him amid shouts and heckles from the public gallery.
A public question, submitted by Christopher Badderly, stated: “I would like to know the name the person who supplied Shabir Ahmed, convicted of CSE in Rochdale, with a character reference. I have been informed that the person responsible is a current Labour councillor. Is this correct?”
