'How many other children's lives have been destroyed by these monsters?'

Ex-detective Maggie Oliver quit Greater Manchester Police when the force refused to act over her warnings about the gang’s abuse.

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Jailed...from left: Naheem Akram (26 years), Mohammed Shahzad (26), Roheez Khan (12), Nisar Hussain (19), Kasir Bashir (29) - who has absconded - and Mushtaq Ahmed (21)

(Ringleader... Mohammed Zahid was head of grooming gang in Rochdale, main image)

She expressed her “total admiration” for the victims’ strength in pursuing their case — but expressed fury at the long wait for justice.

Ms Oliver said: “I’m enraged, really, and wonder how many other children's lives have been destroyed by these monsters.

“I am also angry that some of these men were known about in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“But I am overjoyed that the sentences finally reflect the magnitude of the life-destroying and inhumane crime of child rape. To see them sentenced to 35 years is karma.”

Police had failed to intervene for fear of being branded racist as the paedophiles were all men of Pakistani heritage.

The girls were groomed by Zahid, who was known as “Knickerman”.