By M10News Crime Desk | October 24, 2025
A nationwide manhunt is underway after an asylum seeker convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping was mistakenly released from prison instead of being deported.
According to Sky News, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, had been serving a 12-month sentence at HMP Chelmsford before his accidental release. He was expected to be transferred to an immigration removal centre immediately upon completion of his term, a process that appears to have broken down due to an administrative error.
Conviction and Sentencing
Earlier this month, Kebatu was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and harassment without violence.
District Judge Christopher Williams told the court that Kebatu posed a “significant risk of reoffending”, as he sentenced him to 12 months in prison in September.
During his trial, prosecutors detailed how Kebatu had approached two teenage girls near the Bell Hotel, where he had been temporarily housed as part of an asylum placement scheme. One of the girls, aged 14, said Kebatu touched her thigh and attempted to kiss her, later telling her he wanted to “have a baby” with her.
When another woman intervened the following day, Kebatu also assaulted her, according to court records.
Public and Political Reaction
The revelation that the convicted offender was mistakenly freed has sparked outrage among senior government officials and local representatives.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he was “appalled at the release in error,” adding in a post on X (formerly Twitter):
“Kebatu must be deported for his crimes — not walking free on our streets.”
A government source told Sky News that Lammy has ordered an internal investigation and is supporting Essex Police’s efforts to locate the fugitive.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also weighed in, claiming the incident reflected a “broken system”, saying:
“The Epping hotel migrant sex attacker has been accidentally freed rather than deported. He is now walking the streets of Essex. Britain is broken.”
Local MP Marie Goldman called the situation “utterly unacceptable” and demanded a “full, rapid public inquiry” into how such a serious mistake occurred.
Police and Prison Service Response
Sky News understands that Essex Police are leading the manhunt, focusing efforts in Chelmsford and the surrounding areas.
The Prison Service confirmed that it was “urgently working with police to return the offender to custody following a release in error.”
A spokesperson said:
“Public protection is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident.”
Sources told Sky News that an officer involved in Kebatu’s discharge has been removed from duty pending an inquiry.
Legal and Policy Context
Under the UK Borders Act 2007, any foreign national convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to at least 12 months in prison is subject to automatic deportation.
Immigration enforcement procedures require close coordination between the Home Office, HM Prison Service, and Border Force to prevent released offenders from absconding.
A former Home Office official, speaking anonymously to M10News, said:
“This case highlights a breakdown in the prisoner-to-deportation handover system. The risk of administrative error increases when multiple agencies are involved without a unified data-sharing protocol.”
Community Tensions in Epping
The case has reignited tensions in Epping, where the Bell Hotel’s use as asylum accommodation has already sparked protests and counter-protests.
Residents told M10News that the incident “confirmed fears” about poor oversight of placements and demanded “immediate transparency” from the Home Office.
A local business owner said:
“We sympathise with people seeking asylum, but when something like this happens, it destroys trust. The community needs clear answers.”
M10News Analysis: A Failure of Coordination
This incident underscores a recurring problem in the UK’s immigration and criminal justice systems: poor inter-agency communication.
Despite the Home Office being “ready” to transfer Kebatu to an immigration removal centre, the lack of real-time coordination between prison authorities and immigration enforcement appears to have allowed his accidental release.
Experts say that until the government addresses the systemic gaps between justice and immigration operations, similar cases could happen again.
As of Friday evening, Kebatu remains at large, and police have urged the public not to approach him but to report any sightings immediately.
Editing by M10News Crime Desk | Contact: crime@m10news.com
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