Amar Ilyas

Amar Ilyas: Fugitive Grooming Gang Ringleader Sentenced in Absence
Amar Ilyas, a former Labour council candidate and youth worker, has been sentenced in his absence to 27 years in prison, plus an additional year on extended licence, after being found guilty of 20 child sexual abuse offences involving five victims.

Ilyas, 41, fled the UK before his trial and is believed to be in Pakistan, claiming medical treatment prevents his return. Mr Justice Hampton dismissed that explanation, calling his disappearance “an act of cowardice” and stating that Ilyas was “deliberately avoiding justice.”

A Predatory Offender
Known to victims by the nickname “Killer,” Ilyas used intimidation, threats of gang rape, and even a firearm to coerce young girls into sexual abuse. The court heard harrowing accounts, including:

The rape of a 13‑year‑old girl while she slept at a friend’s home

A “particularly brutal” rape for which the judge imposed a consecutive sentence

The humiliation of victims in front of peers

Threats that cultural shame would prevent them from reporting him

One victim was driven to a remote area where Ilyas had “already determined what was to happen to her,” the judge said. Despite her crying and resistance, he continued the assault.

Public Life After His Crimes
Following his offending, Ilyas went on to run as a Labour candidate in Sheffield’s City ward in 2016 and later worked as a youth worker and anti‑knife crime campaigner. He also served as a director for the charity Mums United until 2020. There is no suggestion that the Labour Party, Momentum, or Mums United had any knowledge of his crimes.

He was arrested by the National Crime Agency in 2020, prompting a safeguarding referral due to his youth work.

Victims Speak Out
Victim impact statements described years of fear, intimidation, and emotional devastation. One survivor said she was “taking back control” after years of silence. Another said Ilyas had driven past her home “in a sadistic way” before the trial, strengthening her resolve to testify.

Still at Large
Mr Justice Hampton urged that “every effort” be made to locate Ilyas.
“When he is brought here,” he said, “I will deal with him.”