A suspected British paedophile has become one of only a tiny number of people in Israel’s history not to be granted citizenship under the Law of Return.

Todros Grynhaus, from Salford, fled to Israel on a false passport shortly after pleading not guilty in court to seven counts of sexual assault on three children.

The former teacher was arrested in Jerusalem in February but appealed against his deportation under the Law of Return.

This week Israeli interior minister Gideon Sa’ar made the rare decision to deny citizenship under an exemption that bars anyone who may endanger public welfare.

Famously two other men have faced exclusion from Israel under the exemption. Meyer Lansky, an American mobster who was deported in 1970 to the US for tax evasion, and Victor Vancier, the American activist who is banned from Israel for allegiance to the late Rabbi Meir Kahane and his Kach party which was outlawed in Israel in 1994.

Lawyers acting for the 48-year-old Mr Grynhaus said they intended to fight the minister’s decision in Israel’s supreme court.

The UK Home Office said it would not confirm if it is making an extradition application for Mr Grynhaus.