A Romanian child rapist who was deported but illegally returned to Britain has been recaptured after he tried to claim benefits.
Sebastian Pavel Baltatu, 24, who was a member of a Romanian grooming gang that preyed on young girls, was jailed for three years for raping a child under the age of 13 in 2019.
He was deported in 2020 but managed to sneak back into the UK and was found living in Manchester - where he and four other men had previously groomed and sexually exploited victims aged 12 to 15 between 2016 and 2018.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) tracked him down to an address in Gorton after he audaciously filed a claim to receive Universal Credit.
The force and its Sex Offender Management Unit worked together to arrest the child rapist in March.
Baltatu appeared at Manchester Crown Court on April 17 where he pleaded guilty to five breaches of his sex offender requirements and a breach of his deportation order.
He was jailed for a year and six months and now faces being deported again.
Police said Baltatu poses a 'clear and ongoing risk to the public', particularly children.
Sebastian Pavel Baltatu, 24, who was a member of a grooming gang preying on young girls, was jailed for three years for raping a child under the age of 13 in 2019
Detective Sergeant Daniel Sanchez, from our Public Protection Department, said: 'Sebastian Baltatu poses a clear and ongoing risk to the public, particularly to children, and it was vital that he was located and brought before the courts.
'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.
'Officers are proactively reviewing sex offenders who are believed to be living overseas to ensure they have not returned to the UK.
'Where concerns are identified, swift action is taken to locate those individuals and arrest them where necessary.
'Through determined and methodical work by officers from our Sex Offender Management Unit, we were able to establish his whereabouts and ensure he was arrested safely.
'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.
'We will continue to work closely with partner agencies to identify those who pose a risk 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 the depraved sexual abuse of young children in Manchester between 2016 and 2018.
One of the victims - who was 12 when the abuse started - was raped by Sebastian Baltatu.
The child was then also raped repeatedly by Parizian Calin, also known as David, who then facilitated other men to rape her.
Ilie Baltatu, also known as Danny, used social media to prey on the same girl before inciting her to engage in sexual activity and sexually assaulted her whilst she was still under the age of 13.
At the time, Supt Rebecca Boyce of GMP said the young victims 'suffered the most unimaginable and traumatic abuse'.
Lisa O'Neill, from the Crown Prosecution Service said all of the men 'deliberately targeted and groomed the young victims... because they were underage and because of their vulnerability'.
'The victims were just children when they were subjected to appalling sexual exploitation.'