Sebastian Pavel Baltatu, 24, was previously jailed for three years for raping a child under 13 in 2019 and deported in 2020, but was found living in Manchester after his illegal return. According to major media reports, he was a member of a grooming gang that preyed on young girls. Between 2016 and 2018 in Manchester, Baltatu and four other men groomed and sexually exploited victims aged 12 to 15, with one victim, who was 12 when the abuse started, raped by Baltatu.
Greater Manchester Police tracked him to an address in Gorton after he filed a claim to receive Universal Credit, and officers from the Sex Offender Management Unit arrested him in March. He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on April 17, pleaded guilty to five breaches of his sex offender requirements and a breach of his deportation order, and was jailed for a year and six months. Police said Baltatu poses a clear and ongoing risk to the public, particularly children.
The child victim was also raped repeatedly by Parizian Calin, who then facilitated other men to rape her, and Ilie Baltatu 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 13. It remains unclear how Baltatu managed to sneak back into the UK after deportation or what specific measures are in place to prevent such re-entries. The current status of other perpetrators like Parizian Calin and Ilie Baltatu is also unknown, as is the exact date of Baltatu's arrest in March and his court appearance on April 17.