Telford grooming gang ringleader already in prison confesses to further child sex crimes

From the Birmingham Mail

A grooming gang ringleader jailed for child sex offences has confessed to further crimes. Notorious predator Mubarek Ali was previously locked up for a string of sick sex offences in what is believed to be one of the largest operations in West Mercia Police’s history.

The ‘highly dangerous’ 40-year-old was part of a gang of men who preyed on four young girls in Telford. The girls – who were as young as 13 – were sexually abused, trafficked and prostituted.

Now Ali – who is a prisoner at HMP Hewell near Redditch – has admitted he is responsible for even more offences. He could be handed extra time behind bars when he is sentenced next month.

Ali admitted two counts of rape, one count of trafficking for sexual exploitation, three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of indecent assault. The sex offender – formerly of Regent Street, Wellington – pleaded guilty to the crimes at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday, April 5.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard how Ali committed his crimes between 2004 and 2008 against a girl who was then aged 14. He will be sentenced on Monday, May 20.

The convict was jailed for 14 years in 2012 following West Mercia Police’s probe into child sexual exploitation in Telford – known as Operation Chalice.

A total of seven men – including Ali and his brother- were jailed as a result of Operation Chalice. A series of trials which stretched over two years led to the men being convicted for sex offences against four girls.

Ali was released automatically part-way through his sentence in 2017 but was sent back to jail after breaking his licence conditions just under a year later. In 2022, Ali was refused parole after a board said it was ‘not satisfied’ he was suitable for release.