Three women who were sexually abused by a serial rapist have said they feel "betrayed" and "frustrated" after their attacker fled to Pakistan while on bail.

Amar Ilyas, 41, was convicted of 20 sexual offences against five girls in Sheffield and was sentenced, in his absence, to a minimum of 27 years in prison.

One of his victims told the BBC she had assumed his passport would automatically be surrendered after he was charged and said she was "so disappointed in the law".

The government said "decisions on bail restrictions are a matter for the independent judiciary", while the National Crime Agency (NCA) said it was "making every effort to ensure Ilyas is brought before the court".

A woman who was sexually abused by Amar Ilyas when she was 13 said she had been "cheated" because she felt unable to go out and leave her home, yet her abuser had been able to leave the country.

"There is no justice is there really? He didn't take accountability. He's not getting any consequences for his actions," she said.Re"We were told that he got to keep his passport because of his human rights, but he wasn't humane towards other people.

"He didn't show any empathy, so it was a really big insult when his human rights and feelings were taken into consideration."

Amar Ilyas was arrested in 2020 and charged in 2023, as part of the NCA's Operation Stovewood, investigating sexual abuse in South Yorkshire.

Sheffield Crown Court heard he had carried out the offences against girls as young as 12 in the Meersbrook and Sharrow areas of Sheffield between 2004 and 2007.

The BBC understands he was allowed to keep his passport after appearing in court, and had previously travelled abroad while on court bail, but had returned to the UK.

He went to Pakistan in July 2025 and did not return for his trial in September of that year, despite being ordered to fly back to the UK by the judge.

His younger brothers are both currently in prison for sexual offences against one victim. Kamar Ilyas, 40, was jailed for 10 years and Kamran Ilyas, 39, was sentenced to three years.

Resist comment.  How long will we have to tolerate muslims in this country?  We need to establish a programme of mass deportation all muslims.