Amar Ilyas, a 41-year-old grooming gang member known as 'Killer,' has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for a series of violent rapes and sexual assaults against five girls in the 2000s. Ilyas fled to Pakistan after being granted bail and was tried in his absence. His brothers, Kamar Ilyas, 39, and Kamran Ilyas, 38, were also jailed for 10 years and three years respectively for their roles in the abuse.
Brothers' Crimes Against a 12-Year-Old
Kamar Ilyas began grooming a 12-year-old girl in 2004, phoning her and arranging meetings in Sheffield where he sexually abused and raped her. He then introduced her to his brother Amar, who raped her weekly for three years in parks, houses, and his car. Amar gave her gifts and once laced a cigarette with crack cocaine before raping her. He also showed her a handgun and threatened her with a spanner during an attack. Kamran Ilyas sexually abused the same girl when he was around 17.
Additional Victims of Amar Ilyas
Operation Stovewood identified four more victims of Amar Ilyas. One woman woke up to find 'Killer' raping her; another was raped after being plied with alcohol and drugs; a third was forced down an alleyway and raped after refusing a sex act; and a fourth was bitten on the face and raped after being introduced by Kamran Ilyas. Amar Ilyas was convicted of 20 offences, including rape and possession of a firearm.
Court Proceedings and Justice
Judge Peter Hampton praised the courage of the five women who testified, contrasting their bravery with Amar Ilyas's cowardice. The judge said Ilyas 'took the coward's route and fled' and continues to manipulate proceedings from abroad. The National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood led the investigation, which began in 2018 after contacting a victim. Senior Investigating Officer Alan Hastings thanked the survivors for their bravery, and CPS prosecutor Martin McRobb acknowledged their immense courage in supporting the complex case.
