Survivors demand passport seizure after Sheffield rapist fled to Pakistan on bail

Serial rapist Amar Ilyas, sentenced in absentia to a minimum of 27 years for 20 sexual offences against five girls, fled to Pakistan in July 2025 after being granted bail and retaining his passport. Three of his victims, speaking under lifelong anonymity, described feeling betrayed by a system that allowed him to leave the country while awaiting trial. The National Crime Agency, leading Operation Stovewood, confirmed it is actively seeking his return, and a government spokesperson expressed sympathy for the victims.

Judges noted Ilyas chose "the coward's route" and urged law enforcement to use all means to enforce the outstanding arrest warrant. The survivors called for mandatory passport confiscation for high-risk offenders to prevent future absconding.