Epping manhunt latest: Three police forces search for jailed hotel asylum seeker after mistaken release

While the investigation was ongoing, a prison officer was dismissed to evacuate the prisoners.

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.”

Aaron Stow, president of the Criminal Justice Workers Union (CJWU), said Kebatu’s mistaken release was a “profound malpractice”.

He said: “The release of Hadush Kebatu is a betrayal of the victims, society and the principles of justice. We demand a thorough investigation and urgent reforms to ensure this never happens again.”

Sir Keir Starmer said the accidental release was “completely unacceptable”.

The Prime Minister said: “I am appalled that this has happened and is being investigated.

“The police are working urgently to catch him and my government supports them.

“This man should be caught and deported for his crimes.”

Kebatu was found guilty of five offenses following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates’ courts in September.

His trial was told he told two young people he wanted to “have a baby with each of them” and tried to kiss them, then put his hand on one of the girls’ hips and caressed her hair.

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.

Kebatu 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.

The Conservative MP for Epping Forest said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Justice Minister David Lammy must take responsibility for the mistake that led to Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu being mistakenly released from prison.

Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker, was jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl; this crime sparked protests at the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he was staying.

Epping Forest MP Neil Hudson told BBC Radio 4 Today: “This appears to be an operational error, but the responsibility has to lie somewhere and it has to lie at the top, with the Justice Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister.

“They said they were angry and appalled. Yes, they are right, they should be angry and appalled. But that is not good enough and the Labor Government needs to address this issue.

“They need to arrest this guy, but they need to solve this problem, and that’s what my constituents, who are deeply distressed and upset, are saying.”

Kebatu was supposed to be sent to an immigration detention center for deportation but was mistakenly released. Because he was released on licence, he was wrongly classified as a prisoner and was given a £76 release allowance. Telegram reported.

An officer at the prison was dismissed while authorities investigated the error. Independent he understands.

Videos circulating online showed a man resembling Kebatu, wearing a gray tracksuit and carrying a plastic bag, in Chelmsford town center shortly after his release.

After the mistake, he boarded the train to London from Chelmsford railway station at 12.41am, Essex Police said..

The Greater Anglia train stopped at Shenfield and Stratford before arriving at London Liverpool Street at 1.18pm, according to Trainline data.

Essex Police, British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police are searching for Hadush Kebatu, who was mistakenly released from prison.

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”.