Hadush Kebatu

Hadush Kebatu, a 41-year-old Ethiopian national, arrived in the UK on 29 June 2024 by crossing the Channel in a small boat. Just eight days later, on 7 July 2024, he committed a sexual offence against a 14-year-old girl by making inappropriate comments to her before attempting to kiss her. The following day, on 8 July 2024, Kebatu sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, placing his hand on her leg, and telling her she was pretty. These incidents occurred while he was residing at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.

Kebatu was arrested and stood trial at Chelmsford and Colchester Magistrates’ Courts over three days in September 2024. He was found guilty of five offences related to these sexual assaults. During the sentencing hearing, it was revealed that Kebatu expressed a 'firm wish' to be deported. Court records, translated through an interpreter, listed his date of birth as December 1986, making him 38 at the time, though Essex Police records indicate December 1983, confirming his age as 41.

Following his conviction, Kebatu was imprisoned at HMP Chelmsford. However, on Friday morning in late October 2025, he was mistakenly released instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre for deportation proceedings. This error sparked a two-day manhunt, during which Kebatu travelled to London and was apprehended in Finsbury Park on Sunday morning. The Metropolitan Police released CCTV images of him in the Dalston area, wearing a grey tracksuit and carrying a tote bag with avocados.

Downing Street has confirmed that Kebatu will be deported 'imminently', with the Prime Minister’s spokesperson stating on Monday that this is expected within a few days. The incident has highlighted systemic issues in the justice system, with prisons chief inspector Charlie Taylor describing erroneous releases as an 'endemic problem' due to understaffing and underinvestment. Justice Secretary David Lammy is addressing MPs on the matter and announcing enhanced checks for prisoner releases, alongside an independent inquiry.

The case drew significant public attention, including protests and counter-protests in Epping and outside asylum seeker hotels nationwide. The father of the teenage victim expressed hope for immediate deportation, while politicians across parties, including Chelmsford MP Marie Goldman, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, criticised the government's handling. A prison officer has been suspended pending investigation, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ordered a full probe to prevent future errors. Government figures show 262 erroneous prisoner releases in the year to March 2025, a 128% increase from the previous year (PA News Agency, Shropshire Star, 27 October 2025).