Manhunt for asylum seeker jailed for sexual assault mistakenly released
Police launched a manhunt after the asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl was accidentally released from prison.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who came to the UK on a small boat, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the attack in Epping, Essex, last month.
Prison sources said Kebatu was scheduled to be sent to an immigration detention center before his planned deportation. An investigation was launched by the Prison Service and one officer was suspended while the investigation continued.
Kebatu’s arrest sparked protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he lived.
In September, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard Kebatu tried to kiss the young girl on a bench on July 7 and made several suggestive comments.
The next day, July 8, he encountered the same girl and tried to kiss her before sexually assaulting her. He also sexually assaulted a woman who offered to help him prepare a CV to find a job.
After being found guilty of five crimes in September Sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order banning him from approaching or contacting any women.
He was also made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
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.”
Justice Secretary David Lammy said he was “appalled by his mistaken release at HMP Chelmsford”.
Writing in a post on X, Lammy 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 on our streets.”
Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, called for a swift public inquiry into how the erroneous broadcast, first reported by the Sun, took place.
“This is completely unacceptable and potentially endangers my constituents,” he said. “I am waiting for a response from the Prison Service.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the “whole system has collapsed under Labour”.
“The Conservatives voted against Labor’s prisoner release program because it was sending predators back to our streets,” he said on X.
“But this guy was just convicted. It’s an unbelievable level of incompetence.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “He’s walking the streets of Essex right now. Britain is devastated.”
