Survivors call for passport safeguards after rapist fled on bail

Three women abused by Amar Ilyas have called for stronger safeguards against defendants leaving the country while on bail. Ilyas travelled to Pakistan in July 2025 and failed to return for his trial that September. He was convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of rape and other sexual offences against five victims and sentenced to 27 years in prison in his absence on 22 June 2026. The BBC reported on 7 October that an arrest warrant remained outstanding. [1] [2] [3]

The women told the BBC they felt betrayed and frustrated. One proposed taking defendants’ passports to prevent them from leaving during proceedings. The BBC reported that Ilyas had kept his passport and that no request for its surrender was made when his defence sought bail. It also reported that he had previously travelled abroad while on bail and returned. [1]

Current Crown Prosecution Service guidance says bail conditions should be necessary and proportionate, and that the risk of a defendant failing to appear should be assessed individually. It does not establish why Ilyas kept his passport: the guidance was updated after his departure, and the earlier bail decision and hearing records were not available. [5]