A Romanian national and convicted sex offender, previously wanted in his home country for causing the deaths of two people in a road crash, has been arrested in Newry.
Claudiu Tomse appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court – sitting in Newry – in breach of a UK deportation order.
The 42-year-old was travelling along the Belfast Road in Newry, at approximately 3pm on Monday, October 14, when he was stopped by police who were concerned about children in the vehicle not wearing any seatbelts.
Tomse identified himself – a Romanian National with an address on the Dublin Road, Newry.
Police made enquiries with the Home Office, which revealed that Tomse was issued with a deportation order on
the July 3, 2017.
Police constable Edwards told the court that Tomse left the UK on July 14, 2018, returning to Romania.
However, Tomse returned and applied to remain in the UK on October 18, 2021. The application was refused and Tomse left the UK again.
Constable Edwards said Tomse is now in the UK in breach of a deportation order for a second time.
“The defendant is a foreign national offender with no lawful basis to enter or remain in the UK,” he said.
“He has no recourse to public funds, no permission to work and the Home Secretary has deemed it is not a public good [for him] to be in the UK.”
Constable Edwards said Tomse, who has an “extensive record” was arrested at 3.35pm and taken to Banbridge Custody.
District Judge Laura Marshall, upon reading Tomse’s record, questioned his defence solicitor: “Have you seen this?”
To which she replied: “I haven’t. I understand that there may be a significant entry in Romania.”
Judge Marshall, reading from the record, continued: “Three and a half years in Romania for theft matters. Then we have six years in Italy for serious sexual offences. Again Romania, another three years for serious theft matters; causing death by dangerous driving in Romania. More serious theft in Romania. Driving matters here.
“What do you have to say on his behalf?”
Tomse’s defence solicitor responded: “He has a partner and two children in Newry. He is also employed in Newry…as a car wash attendant.
“He isn’t in receipt of benefits but his partner is. He instructs that they both applied for settlement status in 2021 and that that was granted.”
Judge Marshall then interjected: “He has no legal right to be here, so he was refused leave to remain in the UK.”
Constable Edwards then reiterated that, confirming that his most recent application was refused on January 22, 2023.
The defence added: “My instructions were that he applied, and they thought was that that application was successful.
“When you apply to the Home Office, they give you a code. You can log in, see all of your documents, which are uploaded there. [Tomse’s partner] has agreed to send me a screenshot of that to prove that that application was indeed successful.
“He is registered with the GP here. He has a bank account here, and I appreciate his partner’s not before the court, but she is in receipt of benefits, and the children are in school.”
Rejecting to bail, Judge Marshall said: “There’s no circumstances I can manage the risk that this man poses on bail.”
Tomse was remanded in custody to appear before Newry Magistrates’ Court on November 6.
