A sex offender convicted of assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Essex was mistakenly released from prison before fleeing to London and has now been deported back to Ethiopia.
The 38-year-old Hadush Kebatu, who was released in error from HMP Chelmsford, was deported from the UK and has been confirmed by the Home Office to have arrived in Ethiopia with no permission to return. Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, had been serving a 12-month jail term for the mentioned sexual offenses.
Originally slated for deportation, Kebatu’s premature release triggered a substantial manhunt across the south-east region. His crimes occurred while he was staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.
Following his arrest in the Finsbury Park area around 8:30 am on Sunday, Kebatu was seen being led away by police officers near a bus stop in north London. Clad in a black jacket and jeans, he was escorted to a police van by plain-clothed officers with a hood over his head.
Despite having some personal funds upon leaving prison, Kebatu did not receive a discharge grant for living expenses. Witnesses reported seeing him attempting to return to HMP Chelmsford multiple times in a confused state, only to be turned away and directed to the railway station.
After spending close to 48 hours on the run, Kebatu was apprehended. The incident raised concerns regarding the circumstances of his erroneous release.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated she utilized all available means to facilitate Kebatu’s deportation, emphasizing the importance of enhancing public safety by removing such dangerous individuals from the streets.
