Migrant sex offender deported from UK, government says

A migrant sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison has been deported from the UK, the government has announced.

Hadush Kebatu was jailed after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, while living in an asylum hotel, but was mistakenly set free by staff at HMP Chelmsford on Friday. He was brought back into custody following a two-day manhunt.

He was removed on a flight to Ethiopia on Tuesday night and arrived the following morning, the Home Office said.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Last week’s blunder should never have happened – and I share the public’s anger that it did.”

“I have pulled every lever to deport Mr Kebatu and remove him off British soil. I am pleased to confirm this vile child sex offender has been deported. Our streets are safer because of it,” she added.

Kebatu was deported with no right to return, the Home Office said.

Justice Secretary David Lammy said Kebatu’s mistaken early release was “unacceptable”, adding that “we must get to the bottom of what happened” through an independent investigation.

Kebatu arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on a small boat on 29 June, having travelled through Sudan, Libya, Italy and France.

His arrest in July sparked a wave of protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping where he had been living since arriving in the UK.

Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard Kebatu tried to kiss a teenage girl in the town centre, and made sexually explicit comments to her.

The following day, he encountered the same girl and tried to kiss her before sexually assaulting her and another woman.

He denied the charges against him but was found guilty of five offences and sentenced to 12 months in custody, including the time he had already time in jail awaiting his trial.