A convicted child rapist who was deported from the United Kingdom has been jailed after unlawfully returning to the country and attempting to claim Universal Credit — a benefit application that ultimately led police directly to his door.
Sebastian Pavel Baltatu, 24, was sentenced to three years in 2019 for the rape of a child under the age of 13 and was subsequently deported in 2020 following the conclusion of his sentence. He had no legal right to return to the United Kingdom, but routine monitoring by Greater Manchester Police’s Sex Offender Management Unit later revealed he had done exactly that.
Officers established that Baltatu had resettled in Manchester and traced him to an address in Gorton after he filed a claim for Universal Credit. The benefit application, made despite his illegal status in the country, provided police with the information needed to locate him. He was arrested in March 2026 following a co-ordinated operation led by the Sex Offender Management Unit.
Appearing at Manchester Crown Court on 18 April, Baltatu pleaded guilty to five breaches of his sex offender requirements and a further breach of his deportation order. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and now faces deportation for a second time.
Greater Manchester Police described Baltatu as posing “a clear and ongoing risk to the public,” and to children in particular. Detective Sergeant Daniel Sanchez, from the Public Protection Department, said the case demonstrated both the dangers posed by offenders who believe they can evade the law and the determination of officers to find them. “Despite having been deported following a serious sexual offence and being subject to strict requirements, Baltatu chose to unlawfully return to the UK and deliberately breach the conditions placed upon him,” he said.
DS Sanchez added that the force was actively reviewing cases involving sex offenders believed to be living overseas to ensure they had not returned without authorisation. “Where concerns are identified, swift action is taken to locate those individuals and arrest them where necessary,” he said. “This case underlines our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities and taking robust action against offenders who believe they can evade the law.”
The case has highlighted the role of benefit fraud detection in identifying individuals who should not be in the country, with Baltatu’s Universal Credit claim proving the decisive lead in tracking him down.
