Sex attacker migrant boarded train after accidental prison release | UK | News
Asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a woman and a 14-year-old girl accidentally got on the train to London was released from prison. Hadush Kebatu’s attacks sparked protests across the country this summer, but he now finds himself at large due to what was described as an administrative error.
The sex offender, who is set to be deported from England, was filmed talking to men on the high street of Chelmsford in Essex before catching a train from the city to London. Essex Police in question. The statement said: “We were informed by the prison service today (Friday, October 24) at 12.57 that there was an error regarding the release of a person this morning.
“As a result, we have launched a search operation to find them and are working closely with partner organisations.
“These rapid investigations showed that the man boarded the train to London at Chelmsford Railway Station at 12.41pm.
“We understand the public’s concern about this situation and I can assure you that we have officers working urgently to locate and take him into custody.”
Essex Police appealed for anyone who sees him or has information about his whereabouts to call 999 immediately and quote 0474 of 24 October.
Chelmsford MP Marie Goldman said she “struggled” not to call for the governor of HMP Chelmsford to resign after he was accidentally released.
He told the PA news agency: “I really want to understand what went wrong and it’s not always what people think goes wrong.
“So it’s really tempting to call for the governor’s resignation because that’s the quickest thing to call, and I have to say I’m trying really hard not to do that. But I really want to understand what went wrong.”
Ms Goldman described the accidental release as a “failure” that left “big questions” to be answered.
Government figures show the number of prisoners mistakenly released has more than doubled by March 2025.
A report by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) stated that 262 prisoners were mistakenly released from April 2024 to March 2025, compared to 115 by March 2024.
The Sun first reported this Kebatu He was supposed to be sent to an immigration detention center for deportation but was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he was “appalled” by the mistake. He said: “We are urgently working with the police to trace him and I have ordered an urgent investigation. Kebatu should be deported for his crimes, not onto our streets.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage tweeted: “Immigrant sex attacker at Epping hotel accidentally released rather than deported. Now walking the streets of Essex. Britain is devastated.”
While the investigation was ongoing, a prison officer was dismissed to evacuate the prisoners. A Prison Service spokesman said: “We are urgently working with the police to bring an offender back into custody after he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford.
“Protecting the public is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident.”
Kebatu, 38, arrived in the UK on a small boat in July, days before telling two teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them”. He put his hand on one of the girls’ hips and tried to kiss them before stroking her hair, his trial was told.
It was also revealed that he sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, placing his hand on her leg and telling her she was beautiful.
The migrant was found guilty of five offenses following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates’ courts in September.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison in September. The court heard his hearing judgment He said it was his “firm desire” to be deported.
