Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Sheffield Rapist Fled to Pakistan Before Trial
Amar Ilyas was convicted of sexually abusing five girls in Sheffield.
The abuse happened between 2004 and 2007, when some of the girls were very young.
He was allowed to remain on bail while waiting for his trial and kept his passport.
He travelled to Pakistan in July 2025 and did not come back for his trial that September.
A court found him guilty and sentenced him to at least 27 years in prison, even though he was not there.
The National Crime Agency says it is trying to find him and bring him back.
Survivors say they feel let down and want rules that make it harder for people accused of serious crimes to flee.
Ilyas's two brothers were also jailed for sexual offences against one victim.
Amar Ilyas was convicted of 20 sexual offences against five girls in Sheffield.
The offences involved girls as young as 12 and took place between 2004 and 2007.
Ilyas travelled to Pakistan in July 2025 and did not return for his trial in September.
He was sentenced in his absence to a minimum of 27 years in prison.
Survivors say they feel betrayed and want changes to stop defendants accused of serious sexual offences from absconding.
- Who
- Amar Ilyas, convicted of sexual offences against five girls; three survivors have spoken about his flight.
- What
- Ilyas fled to Pakistan before trial, was convicted in his absence and sentenced to a minimum of 27 years.
- When
- The offences occurred between 2004 and 2007; Ilyas left for Pakistan in July 2025 and missed his September 2025 trial.
- Where
- The offences took place in the Meersbrook and Sharrow areas of Sheffield; Ilyas travelled to Pakistan.
- Why
- He did not return to Britain for trial after travelling to Pakistan; the articles do not state his reason for leaving.
Survivors and advocates
Authorities and legal process
Bail and passport rules
Survivors and advocates
Survivors questioned why Ilyas retained his passport and called for passports to be removed from defendants accused of serious sexual offences.
Authorities and legal process
The government said bail restrictions are a matter for the independent judiciary. The article says prosecutors could have challenged bail, but no request was made for Ilyas's passport to be forfeited.
Bringing Ilyas back
Survivors and advocates
A survivor said she had little hope Ilyas would return, citing the difficulty of extradition from Pakistan, and criticized the law for allowing him to leave.
Authorities and legal process
The National Crime Agency said it is determined to ensure Ilyas serves his sentence and is making enquiries to locate him; the judge urged law enforcement to use all means to execute the arrest warrant.
- Convicted
- 20 sexual offences against five girls
- Sentence
- Minimum 27 years in prison, imposed in his absence
- Age of victims
- As young as 12
- Location of offences
- Meersbrook and Sharrow, Sheffield
- Offence period
- 2004–2007
- Travel to Pakistan
- July 2025
- Brothers' sentences
- Kamar Ilyas received 10 years; Kamran Ilyas received three years, for sexual offences against one victim.
- Search for Ilyas
- The National Crime Agency said it was carrying out proactive enquiries to locate him.