Sheffield Serial Rapist Fled to Pakistan While on Bail, Leaving Victims Feeling Betrayed by the Justice System

Three women who survived sexual abuse at the hands of a serial rapist have spoken of their deep sense of betrayal after learning their attacker was able to flee the country while awaiting trial. Amar Ilyas, 41, was convicted of 20 sexual offences committed against five girls in Sheffield and was sentenced in his absence to a minimum of 27 years behind bars. However, the fact that he was able to leave the UK and travel to Pakistan while on court bail has left his victims questioning whether the legal system truly protects those it is meant to serve.

One of the women, who was sexually abused by Ilyas when she was just 13 years old, told the BBC she felt "cheated" by the outcome. She explained that while she had been too frightened to leave her own home, her abuser had been free to leave the country entirely. "There is no justice is there really? He didn't take accountability. He's not getting any consequences for his actions," she said, expressing her frustration at the situation.

The woman also revealed that she had been informed Ilyas was permitted to keep his passport because of his human rights. She described this as a "really big insult," pointing out that he had shown no empathy towards his victims and had not behaved humanely towards them. The contrast between the protections afforded to her attacker and the suffering endured by the survivors was a recurring theme in their accounts.

A second woman, who also spoke to the BBC, said she had learning difficulties and was in a very vulnerable and dark place when Ilyas abused her as a teenager. She questioned why he was allowed to retain his passport despite the seriousness of the offences committed against young girls. "Where is the justice?" she asked, adding that she holds on to hope every day that he will eventually be found, whether it be tomorrow or next year.

A third survivor, who was raped by Ilyas as a teenager, said she did not hold out much hope that he would ever return to the UK to serve his sentence. She noted that she had been told extradition from Pakistan is very difficult. "Shame on him but shame on the law too, they allowed that to happen," she said, directing her anger at both the perpetrator and the system that permitted his departure.

The three women, who have the right to lifelong anonymity, made the decision to speak out in order to call for changes that would prevent sex offenders from absconding during court proceedings. One of them suggested that authorities need to put measures in place to remove passports in such cases. She warned that survivors might be discouraged from coming forward after hearing about what happened in this case, especially given that these crimes continue to occur.

The case has raised serious questions about how bail conditions are set and enforced. The BBC understands that Ilyas was allowed to keep his passport after appearing in court and had previously travelled abroad while on court bail, but had returned to the UK on those occasions. He went to Pakistan in July 2025 and did not return for his trial in September of that year, despite being ordered by the judge to fly back to the UK.

It is understood that when Ilyas's defence team applied for bail, the prosecution had the opportunity to contest it, but no request was made for his passport to be forfeited. This detail has added to the survivors' sense of injustice, as they believe that a simple administrative step could have prevented their attacker from evading justice. The government, when approached for comment, stated that decisions on bail restrictions are a matter for the independent judiciary.

The National Crime Agency (NCA), which led the investigation into Ilyas as part of Operation Stovewood, said it was making every effort to ensure he is brought before the court. Operation Stovewood is the NCA's investigation into sexual abuse in South Yorkshire, and Ilyas was arrested in 2020 and charged in 2023 as part of that operation. Sheffield Crown Court heard that he had carried out the offences against girls as young as 12 in the Meersbrook and Sharrow areas of Sheffield between 2004 and 2007.

Phillip Marshall, head of Operation Stovewood for the NCA, described Ilyas as having tormented and brutally sexually abused vulnerable young girls and women 20 years ago. He said Ilyas had callously compounded their decades of suffering by not returning to the UK for his trial or sentencing. Marshall added that the meticulous investigation ensured that despite the passage of time, the complexity of the case, and Ilyas's absence, his crimes were heard, believed, and proven in court.

Ilyas's younger brothers are also currently in prison for sexual offences against one victim. Kamar Ilyas, 40, was jailed for 10 years, while Kamran Ilyas, 39, was sentenced to three years. Both men were jailed in June, and their custody photographs were released by the National Crime Agency. The fact that three brothers from the same family have been convicted of sexual offences has shocked the local community and underscored the scale of the abuse uncovered by Operation Stovewood.

Judge Peter Hampton, who sentenced all three brothers in June but did not oversee the bail condition applications at earlier hearings, described Amar Ilyas as having taken "the coward's route and fled." In his sentencing remarks, he urged law enforcement to locate him and use all means necessary to execute the arrest warrant that remains outstanding. The judge's comments reflect the frustration of the court system when defendants evade justice.

Lucy Duckworth from the Survivors Trust described the case as "absolutely appalling" and said it demonstrated the need for specialist courts and training in sexual violence response for staff in the criminal justice service. She questioned the logic of treating a crime so seriously while simultaneously granting bail that allows offenders the freedom to potentially commit further crimes or evade justice altogether.

The survivors' calls for reform have highlighted a broader issue within the criminal justice system. While bail is a fundamental principle designed to protect the presumption of innocence, cases like this raise difficult questions about how to balance those rights against the risk of absconding, particularly when the offences are as serious as those committed by Ilyas. The women hope their decision to speak out will lead to changes that prevent other survivors from experiencing the same betrayal.

As the NCA continues its efforts to locate Ilyas in Pakistan, the survivors are left to grapple with the knowledge that the man who abused them remains at large. Their hope is that he will one day be brought back to the UK to face the consequences of his actions, but they are also determined to ensure that no other victim has to endure the same ordeal. The case has become a rallying point for those demanding better protection for survivors and stricter controls on defendants accused of serious sexual offences.