Sexual abuse in Sheffield took a dark turn as three brothers were convicted for the systematic rape and sexual exploitation of multiple victims, including children, nearly two decades after the crimes took place. Amar Ilyas, 41, known to his victims as “Killer,” along with his brothers Kamar, 39, and Kamran Ilyas, 38, were found guilty following an investigation led by the National Crime Agency’s Operation Stovewood, which examined non-familial child sexual abuse in Rotherham and Sheffield from 1997 to 2013.
Amar Ilyas was the primary perpetrator, committing repeated rapes and sexual assaults against a young girl over three years. His methods included intimidation, the use of drugs, and threats with firearms to maintain control over his victims. Amar used gifts, such as perfume and jewellery, to manipulate children, while instilling terror through acts of violence. In one incident, he forced a victim to smoke a cigarette laced with crack cocaine before raping her. In another, he displayed a handgun to threaten her before taking her into a secluded area and assaulting her.
Kamar and Kamran Ilyas also contributed to the abuse, targeting the same girl by grooming her with alcohol and drugs, driving her to multiple locations, and facilitating her sexual exploitation. Their coordinated actions compounded the trauma endured by the victim.
Operation Stovewood’s investigation later identified four additional women who had been sexually abused by Amar Ilyas. One woman, now in her thirties, recalled waking in a friend’s house to find herself being raped by Amar. Another described being introduced to drugs and alcohol before being repeatedly assaulted in her home. A third victim, aged 18 or 19, was approached by Amar while walking near a park, taken down an alley, and threatened before being raped. A fifth victim, introduced to Amar by Kamran Ilyas, was assaulted at age 16, with Amar using violence and intimidation throughout the attack.
All three brothers were arrested in June 2020 and charged in March 2023. Amar Ilyas was tried in absentia after failing to appear for his trial, having travelled to Pakistan while released on court bail. In September 2025, Amar was convicted of 20 sexual offences and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear. Kamran and Kamar Ilyas were convicted of five sexual offences related to one of the victims and remain in custody pending sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court in June 2026.
National Crime Agency Senior Investigating Officer Alan Hastings described the men as remorseless predators who exploited fear and vulnerability to commit repeated sexual assaults. Hastings praised the victims for their courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation through a complex and lengthy legal process. Martin McRobb, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, noted that the brothers’ actions caused lifelong harm to their victims and highlighted the critical role of victim testimony in bringing them to justice.
Operation Stovewood remains the largest investigation of its kind in the UK. Since its launch, 52 individuals, including the Ilyas brothers, have been convicted, receiving custodial sentences totaling more than 1,500 years. Authorities continue to seek Amar Ilyas to ensure he faces justice.
