Full Breakdown
Sheffield Grooming Gang Sentencing: Labour Candidate Absconds, Brothers Imprisoned
6/23/2026, 4:56:05 AM
Sentencing of the Ilyas Brothers and Flight of Amar Ilyas
Sheffield Crown Court sentenced three brothers for grooming-gang offences on 23 June 2026. Amar Ilyas, 41, received a 27-year term plus a one-year extended licence after conviction on 20 offences against five victims. His brothers, Kamran and Kamar Ilyas, were jailed for three and ten years respectively. Amar remains in Pakistan, claiming medical treatment, and has not returned to face the sentence.
Background & Context
Amar Ilyas stood as a Labour Party candidate for Sheffield’s City ward in 2016 and worked as a youth worker. In 2019 he survived a stabbing while driving a taxi; Momentum supporters later called him a “wonderful comrade.” He was a director of the anti-knife-crime charity Mums United until 2020, when the National Crime Agency arrested him and issued a safeguarding referral.
Key Figures & Groups
The brothers are Amar Ilyas (the alleged “Killer” who used a gun and threats of gang rape), Kamran Ilyas (convicted of sexual activity with a child in 2004 at age 17) and Kamar Ilyas (convicted of rape of a child under 13 and sexual activity with a child). Victims include five girls, one aged 12 deemed especially vulnerable. The presiding judge was Mr Justice Hampton. Momentum, Mums United and the NCA were also mentioned.
Data & Statistics
Amar was convicted of 20 offences and sentenced to 27 years plus a licence; Kamar received 10 years (two-thirds before parole) and Kamran three years (half in custody); the case involved five victims, including a 12-year-old.
Victim Impact Statements
Victims described the abuse as causing lasting trauma and expressed relief at finally being heard.
Official Statements & Responses
Mr Justice Hampton called Amar a “determined and predatory offender” who “deliberately avoided these proceedings for no other reason than cowardice.” He praised the victims, noting “She and the other four have been heard and they have been believed.” The NCA issued a safeguarding referral after identifying Ilyas’s youth-worker role.
Criticism & Opposition
The judge’s condemnation and victims’ statements underscore strong opposition to Ilyas’s alleged crimes, contrasting sharply with his prior political candidacy and charity work.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Amar claims medical treatment in Pakistan, but the court dismissed this as cowardice; his whereabouts and health remain unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “deliberately avoiding these proceedings for no other reason than cowardice” — Mr Justice Hampton
- “She must have been terrified,” — Mr Justice Hampton
- “Unlike the attitude that has shown towards me, this is not about causing pain. This is about truth, accountability and justice.” — Victim (via barrister)
- “I felt angry that the person who put me through this was able to walk around,” — Victim
What’s Next
Authorities continue to seek Amar Ilyas’s extradition; the judge said he will be dealt with when captured. The brothers’ sentences will be reviewed for parole, and victim statements may shape future safeguarding policies.
