Victims Say Justice System Failed Them After Serial Rapist Fled UK on Bail

Three women who endured sexual abuse at the hands of a serial rapist have spoken of their sense of betrayal after learning their attacker was able to leave the country while awaiting trial. Amar Ilyas, 41, fled to Pakistan in July 2025 and failed to return for his court proceedings, ultimately being sentenced in his absence to a minimum of 27 years behind bars.

The victims, who are entitled to lifelong anonymity, told the BBC they feel cheated by a legal system that allowed their abuser to keep his passport despite the severity of the charges against him. One woman said she had simply assumed that once Ilyas was charged, his travel documents would be automatically confiscated. Instead, she discovered he had been free to come and go from the UK, a revelation she described as deeply disappointing.

Ilyas was convicted of 20 sexual offences committed against five girls in the Meersbrook and Sharrow areas of Sheffield between 2004 and 2007. Some of his victims were as young as 12 at the time of the attacks. The case formed part of Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency's extensive investigation into historical sexual abuse in South Yorkshire.

One of the women, who was 13 when Ilyas abused her, expressed her frustration at the stark contrast between her own restricted life and the freedom her attacker enjoyed. She noted that while she felt unable to leave her home, Ilyas was able to board a plane and exit the country entirely. She questioned where any real sense of justice could be found, pointing out that he had accepted no responsibility and faced no immediate consequences for what he had done.

The same woman recalled being told that Ilyas had been permitted to retain his passport on human rights grounds. She found this deeply insulting, arguing that her abuser had shown no humanity or empathy toward his victims. For her, the consideration extended to his rights and feelings stood in painful contrast to the suffering he had inflicted.

A second victim, who has learning difficulties, described being in an extremely vulnerable and dark place when Ilyas abused her as a teenager. She questioned why a man who had committed such serious offences against young girls was allowed to keep his passport and remain free to travel. She said she holds onto hope that authorities will eventually locate him, acknowledging that it might take months or even years but insisting that hope is all she has.

A third woman, who was raped by Ilyas when she was a teenager, said she holds little confidence that he will ever return to Britain to serve his sentence. She understands he is in Pakistan and that efforts are being made to find him, but she has been told that extradition from the country is fraught with difficulty. She directed her anger not only at Ilyas himself but also at the legal system that permitted the situation to unfold.

The women chose to speak publicly in order to push for reforms that would prevent sex offenders from absconding while court proceedings are ongoing. One suggested that authorities should implement a system where passports are automatically removed in such cases. She warned that survivors might be discouraged from coming forward if they learn that perpetrators can simply leave the country before facing justice.

The National Crime Agency has confirmed it is pursuing Ilyas actively. Phillip Marshall, who leads Operation Stovewood, said Ilyas had tormented and brutally abused vulnerable girls and women two decades ago and had compounded their suffering by failing to return for his trial or sentencing. Marshall emphasised that the investigation had ensured the crimes were heard, believed and proven in court despite the passage of time and the complexity of the case.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that Ilyas had previously travelled abroad while on court bail but had always returned to the UK. However, he went to Pakistan in July 2025 and ignored a judge's order to fly back for his trial in September of that year. The BBC understands that when his defence team applied for bail, no request was made for his passport to be forfeited, despite the prosecution having the opportunity to contest the conditions.

Judge Peter Hampton, who sentenced Ilyas and his two younger brothers in June, described the fugitive as having taken the coward's route by fleeing. In his sentencing remarks, the judge urged law enforcement to use all available means to execute the outstanding arrest warrant. Ilyas's brothers, Kamar Ilyas, 40, and Kamran Ilyas, 39, are both currently in prison for sexual offences against one victim.

The government has responded to concerns by stating that decisions regarding bail restrictions fall within the remit of the independent judiciary. Meanwhile, the NCA has insisted it is making every effort to ensure Ilyas is brought before the court. Lucy Duckworth of the Survivors Trust described the case as absolutely appalling and argued it highlights the need for specialist courts and better training for criminal justice staff dealing with sexual violence.

Duckworth questioned the logic of a system that identifies an individual as a significant risk to society yet grants them bail and the freedom to potentially reoffend or evade justice. The case has reignited debate about how bail conditions are applied in serious sexual offence cases and whether current safeguards are adequate to protect victims and ensure defendants face trial. For the three women who spoke out, the hope remains that their voices will drive change so that others do not endure the same ordeal.