WE find it astonishing that a convicted rapist from Lithuania, who has built up a string of convictions in this country, is being allowed to remain here.

In the first instance it is incredible that a man with convictions for rape, drug smuggling and robbery in his home country of Lithuania is allowed to enter Britain legally.

Secondly, we can¹t understand how his five appearances before courts in London, four times for theft and one for sexual assault, has not alerted the authorities to the fact that this man¹s presence poses a threat to the public.

Thirdly, at his most recent court appearance, we fail to understand why an order was not made for him to be deported following yet another conviction.

Unfortunately what we are being told by the UK Border Agency does not fill us with confidence and we fear there are fatal flaws in the system.

When the Agency knows someone is a serious criminal they will not be allowed into the UK. Unfortunately Lithuania does not share such information with Britain. That is a gaping loophole.

Further, unless the police, court or prison make a special point of notifying the UK Border Agency about the risk posed by Valdas Rimaitis, he will not be deported when he gets out of jail.

Again that seems to us a fatal flaw in our system which must be rectified.