Description
A dangerous sex offender has been put behind bars after our officers found he was failing to comply with his sex offender requirements.
Sebastian Pavel Baltatu was tracked down by officers from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) after routine checks revealed he had unlawfully returned to the country, having previously been deported in 2020.
Baltatu (02/09/2001) was jailed for three years in 2019 after being found guilty of the rape of a child under the age of 13.
Following enquiries, officers confirmed Baltatu was living in Manchester and he was located after attempting to make a claim for Universal Credit.
Baltatu was arrested in March 2026 following a co-ordinated operation led by officers from SOMU.
After establishing his location, officers attended an address in Gorton, Manchester. He was arrested and taken into custody, where he remained until his court date.
At Manchester Crown Court on 17 April 2026, Baltatu was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to five breaches of his sex offender requirements and a breach of his deportation order. He now faces deportation for a second time.
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.”