A previously deported Romanian man arrested recently in the North East faces being sent back to his homeland, once more.

Durham Crown Court heard that Cristian Chiriac is on a recurring cycle of returning to the UK, offending, being jailed and then deported.

His latest court appearance was said to have been his third after entering the UK in breach of a deportation order this year.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Tony Dunne, prosecuting, said the now 30-year-old Romanian first came to the attention of authorities in this country in 2019 when he was convicted of shoplifting, receiving a community order.

Following further similar convictions he received an immediate prison sentence and, on October 10, 2019, a deportation order was signed against him, being put into effect on November 3, that year.

Mr Dunne said: "It appears it had little effect in preventing him from returning as on December 14, 2019, he was convicted of illegally entering the UK and he received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

"That has largely been the pattern since."

Mr Dunne said there have been seven further occasions when the defendant has entered the UK in breach of the deportation order, three of them this year.

"He has not always been convicted, but there was twice in 2023 and both times he received six-month prison sentences.

"His most recent deportation was on May 14 and it appears he returned just over a month after that."

Mr Dunne said the defendant's most recent arrest was on suspicion of theft, in Hexham, Northumberland, on June 22.

Chiriac, whose address was given as in Peterborough, admitted the latest breach when he appeared before magistrates recently and he was remanded in custody at Durham Prison.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Jordan Parkinson, for Chiriac, told the crown court sentencing hearing that he admitted the latest charge of breaching the deportation order at the first opportunity and no further action was taken over the suspected theft.

"I would concede at the outset that his record for breaching this order is appalling.

"He informs me there are very few opportunities for him in Romania so he keeps returning here to find work, but he can't legally work in this country.

"He has no support mechanism in Romania, as his parents have died and he has nowhere to live.

"He drove back with his cousin, also an illegal immigrant, before they were arrested.

"I have told him if he continues to flout this order he'll only get longer sentences.

"He tells me he doesn't want to be in a recurring cycle of committing offences and being deported to Romania."

Judge Jo Kidd told the defendant: "You are in a constant cycle of re-offending.

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"Clearly, the length of the sentences passed has no deterrent effect whatsoever, so the sentences will only continue to get longer and longer."

The judge increased the sentence in this case from the previous two terms of six months to one of ten months.

But she told Chiriac: "You will serve up to half of that in prison before you are eligible for release and you will be deported back to Romania, once again."