Child rapist, 24, who was deported but illegally returned to Britain is recaptured after trying to claim benefits

A Romanian child rapist who was deported but illegally sent back to the UK was recaptured after trying to appeal for help.

Sebastian Pavel Baltatu, 24, a member of a Romanian grooming ring targeting young girls, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2019 for raping a child under the age of 13.

He was deported in 2020 but managed to sneak back to the UK and was found living in Manchester where he and four other men had previously groomed and sexually abused victims aged 12 to 15 between 2016 and 2018.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) tracked him down to an address in Gorton after he made a bold claim to receive Universal Credit.

The agency and the Sex Offender Management Unit worked together to arrest the child rapist in March.

Baltatu appeared at Manchester Crown Court on April 17, where he admitted breaching sex offender requirements five times and breaching a deportation order.

He spent a year and six months in prison and now faces deportation again.

Police said Baltatu posed “a clear and ongoing risk to the public”, especially children.

Detective Sergeant Daniel Sanchez from our Department of Public Protection said: ‘Sebastian Baltatu poses a clear and ongoing risk to the public, particularly children, and it was vital he was located and brought to court.

Although Baltatu had been deported following a serious sexual offense and was subject to strict conditions, he chose to return to the UK illegally and deliberately breach the conditions placed on him.

‘Officers proactively screen sex offenders believed to be living abroad to ensure they do not return to the UK.

‘If concerns are identified, action is taken quickly to identify and, where necessary, arrest these individuals.

‘Thanks to the determined and methodical work of officers from our Sexual Offender Management Unit, we were able to establish his whereabouts and ensure his safe arrest.

‘This case underlines our unwavering determination to protect the most vulnerable in our communities and to take strong action against criminals who believe they can evade the law.

‘We will continue to work closely with partner agencies to identify those that pose risks and ensure they are dealt with decisively.’

Baltatu was 18 when he and three other men (Parizian Calin, 20, Adrian Calin, 20 and Ilie Baltatu, 22) were jailed for indecent sexual abuse of minors in Manchester between 2016 and 2018.

One of the victims, who was 12 years old when the abuse began, was raped by Sebastian Baltatu.

The child was raped repeatedly by Parizian Calin, also known as David, who later facilitated other men to rape her.

Ilie Baltatu, also known as Danny, used social media to target the same girl before encouraging her to engage in sexual activity and sexually assaulting her when she was under the age of 13.

At the time, GMP’s Supt Rebecca Boyce said the young victims had been ‘subject to the most traumatic abuse imaginable’.

Lisa O’Neill, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said all the men ‘deliberately targeted and groomed young victims because they were underage and vulnerable’.

‘The victims were still children when they were subjected to horrific sexual abuse.’