Maggie Oliver revealed that the victim only recieved police protection from her newly released tormentor after she intervened
A grooming gang survivor suffered a “complete and utter meltdown” after unexpectedly coming face-to-face with one of the men who abused her in a supermarket, whistleblower Maggie Oliver has revealed.
The former detective was speaking to GB News as fears have been raised that perpetrators could be released early under Labour’s plans to free up space in prisons.
On Saturday, survivor Sarah Wilson told The People’s Channel that she felt the justice she had bravely fought for was “all for nothing” after being notified that two of her abusers could be set for early release.
In the wake of her powerful testimony, Ms Oliver shared the harrowing story of a woman, known only as Ruby, who did not even receive notice that one of her own tormentors was back on the streets.
The whistleblower revealed that Ruby came face-to-face with the man in a shop, forcing her to lock herself in a changing room in terror.
Describing the encounter, she said: “Ruby bumped into the man who made her pregnant in the local supermarket. She didn't even know he was out of prison.”
Ms Oliver said the man had previously threatened to kill Ruby and her sister if she ever spoke to the police.
“She was threatened at gunpoint that if she went to the police, they would shoot her and her sister and kill them.”
Recalling the moment, Ms Oliver added: “She comes round the end of an aisle, she locks herself in the changing room, rings me in a complete and utter meltdown.”
“There is no support for the victims. Not one tiny little piece,” the former detective added.
Ruby has now been given resouces to get help if such an encounter occurs again, but only after the whistleblower's intervention.
“I reached out to Greater Manchester Police on Wednesday or Thursday, and now Ruby has got measures in place. She's got an urgent response marker. She's got a 24 over seven app on her phone.,” Ms Oliver explained.
“My anger is that victims are not routinely offered those things. There should be a service that looks after their welfare before these horrific child rapists are released.
“It shouldn't be left to somebody like me to pick up the phone.”
Ms Oliver’s comments came as convicted Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed was released from prison with little prospect of deportation back to Pakistan.
“The release of Shabir Ahmed re-traumatised (Ruby and other survivors) because it brings back all those memories,” she said.
Despite being stripped of his British citizenship, Ahmed cannot be deported due to protections under the Immigration Act 1971, which many have called on the Government to amend or circumvent.
Despite calls from all political quarters to see the vile gang ringleader removed, Ms Oliver remained unsatisfied at the lack of effort to do so before his release.
“I'm sorry, politicians are saying now they're going to look at it at haste... It's too little, too late.
“They've had 14 years with him locked behind bars. Why are they looking at it now? Are they so incompetent? Are they so neglectful? Do they just not care?"
Calling for a complete overhaul of victim support, the whistleblower said survivors had been effectively abandoned once court proceedings ended.
“We need an overhaul of victim care... There seems to be no service that communicates with victims after the trial.
“It shouldn't be left to little organisations like mine. It should be a state duty to look after the victims' welfare,” Ms Oliver insisted.
