Survivors 'betrayed' after rapist fled to Pakistan while on bail

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A third woman, who was raped by Amar Ilyas as a teenager, said she did not have much hope that he would return to the UK to serve his sentence.

"I just know he's in Pakistan and they're doing what they can, but I've been told it's very difficult with Pakistan with extradition," she said.

"Shame on him but shame on the law too, they allowed that to happen."

The women, who have the right to lifelong anonymity, said they had taken the decision to speak to the BBC to call for changes to prevent sex offenders absconding during court proceedings.

"Going forwards, I think they need to put into place that they remove the passports," one said.

"We live in a world, unfortunately, where these things are carrying on happening.

"There are survivors coming forward but survivors might not want to come forward after hearing something like this."

Judge Peter Hampton, who did not oversee the bail condition applications at earlier hearings, but sentenced all three brothers in June, described Amar Ilyas as having "taken the coward's route and fled".

In his sentencing remarks, he urged law enforcement to locate him and use "all means" to execute the arrest warrant that remains outstanding.

It is understood that when Amar Ilyas's defence team applied for bail, which the prosecution had the opportunity to contest, no request for his passport to be forfeited was made.

Phillip Marshall, head of Operation Stovewood for the NCA, said officers were carrying out proactive enquiries.

He said: "Amar Ilyas tormented and brutally sexually abused vulnerable young girls and women 20 years ago, and he has callously compounded their decades of suffering by not returning to the UK for his trial or sentencing."

Marshall added: "Operation Stovewood's meticulous investigation ensured that despite the passage of time, complexity of the case and Ilyas's absence, his crimes against the women were heard, believed and proven in court.

"We are just as determined to ensure that Ilyas serves his prison sentence."

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