Epping hotel migrant who sexually assaulted girl, 14, accidentally released from prison
An immigrant who sexually assaulted a woman and a 14-year-old girl while living in a hotel in Epping, sparking huge protests, has been mistakenly released from prison early.
Hadush Kebatu was supposed to be sent to an immigration detention center for deportation but was mistakenly released on Friday.
After the mistake, he boarded the train to London from Chelmsford railway station at 12.41am, Essex Police said.. A large-scale police manhunt is currently underway to take him back into custody.
Sir Keir Starmer said the faulty discharge was “completely unacceptable” and the Government supported police trying to catch it.
“I am appalled that this has happened and is being investigated,” the Prime Minister said. “The police are urgently working to trace him and my Government is supporting them. This man needs to be caught and deported for his crimes.”
An officer at the prison was dismissed while authorities investigated the error. Independent he understands.
Essex Police said they were notified of the error by the prison service at 12.57pm and launched an investigation.
Police said investigations showed Kebatu “boarded a train to London from Chelmsford Railway Station at 12.41pm”.
Justice Minister David Lammy said he was “appalled” by the error and was working with police to find the culprit.
Mr Lammy said: “I am appalled that he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford. 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.”
Kebatu 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 and made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order, with the judge warning he posed a “significant risk of re-offending”.
He was also placed on the UK sex offenders register for 10 years, meaning he must be subject to strict monitoring.
During the three-day hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, the 41-year-old man was heard telling two young men he wanted to “have a baby with each of them” and tried to kiss them.
He then put his hand on one of the girls’ hips and stroked her hair, the court heard.
It was also revealed that the Ethiopian national, who came to England on a small boat days ago, sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, placing his hand on her leg and telling her she was beautiful.
Sentencing Kebatu last month, a judge told him his behavior “really highlights what poor regard you have for women”.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “We are working urgently 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.”
The crimes on July 7 sparked massive protests and counter-protests outside The Bell Hotel, where he was staying, and eventually at hotels housing refugees across the country.
Chelmsford MP Marie Goldman called for a “swift public inquiry” into how Kebatu was mistakenly released from prison after the manhunt to find him ended.
The Liberal Democrat MP said in a statement: “I am following developments closely and in contact with the police and prisons.
“The police must do everything they can to ensure that this man is detained so that he can be deported as soon as possible.
“Once the manhunt is over, there must be a full and swift public inquiry into how this happened. This is completely unacceptable and potentially puts my constituents at risk. I await a response from the Prison Service.”
Reacting to the incident, Reform England leader Nigel Farage said: “Immigrant sex attacker at Epping hotel was mistakenly released rather than deported.
“He’s walking the streets of Essex right now. Britain is devastated.”
