Three brothers have been handed prison sentences following their conviction for historical child sexual abuse in Sheffield, with offences spanning from 2004 to 2007. Amar Ilyas, 41, Kamran Ilyas, 38, and Kamar Ilyas, 39, were found guilty of abusing four children, some as young as 12, and an adult woman.
Proceedings at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday saw Amar Ilyas sentenced to 27 years in prison, despite having fled to Pakistan before his trial concluded. Kamar Ilyas received a 10-year sentence, while Kamran Ilyas was given three years. All three brothers were implicated in the sexual abuse of one girl between 2004 and 2006, when she was aged between 12 and 14. At the time of these offences, the men were approximately 17 and 18 years old.
Amar Ilyas, who was known by the nickname "Killer" and reportedly leveraged a reputation for violence to intimidate his victims, was found guilty of 20 offences against five victims. These included the rape and sexual assault of four other girls, aged between 13 and 18, during a similar timeframe. Kamran and Kamar Ilyas were convicted of a total of five sexual offences against one of the girls.
The profound impact of the abuse was conveyed through powerful victim impact statements read in court. One woman, abused by all three brothers, described the trauma as having "seeped into every corner of my life," leading to "relentless nightmares" and unannounced flashbacks. Another victim expressed hope that she could now begin to rebuild her life, asserting her strength and higher moral standards over her abusers. A third woman, who was around 13 when Amar Ilyas raped her, stated the abuse would "never leave" her but that she was "finally taking back control."
Judge Peter Hampton characterised Amar Ilyas as a "determined and predatory sexual offender" and called for law enforcement to locate him. The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that a warrant has been issued for his arrest and that officers are actively pursuing inquiries to apprehend him. Alan Hastings, Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, commended the victims' bravery, strength, and determination, noting how their testimony highlighted the devastating suffering inflicted upon them, which persists to this day.