Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and an adult woman just days after arriving in the UK, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
The 38-year-old, whose arrest in July sparked widespread anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations across the country, was told by the judge that he “knew full well” his teenage victim “was only 14 years of age” when he carried out the attacks.
Kebatu, who had been staying at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, was found guilty earlier this month of two counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault, one count of inciting a child into sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
The court heard harrowing testimony from the teenage victim, who revealed that her school uniform now makes her “feel exposed” following the assault. Kebatu’s adult victim told the court his actions had made her angry, describing the lasting impact of his behaviour.
In a surprising development during sentencing, Kebatu’s defence counsel told the court that his client’s “wish is to be deported as soon as possible,” acknowledging the severity of his actions and their consequences.
The attacks occurred on 7 and 8 July, just days after Kebatu had arrived in the UK on a small boat crossing. The court heard he had been housed at The Bell Hotel for approximately one week before his arrest.
District Judge Christopher Williams, delivering the sentence, emphasised the predatory nature of Kebatu’s behaviour towards the vulnerable teenage victim. The judge had previously warned during the trial that Kebatu should expect an immediate custodial sentence, stating it was “just a question of how long.”
The court heard disturbing details of how Kebatu approached a group of teenagers on 7 July, telling them “come back to Africa, you would be a good wife” and inviting a 14-year-old girl back to his room at The Bell Hotel to “make babies.” He also told the teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them.”
The teenage victim told police she “froze” when Kebatu sexually assaulted her after she had offered him pizza. When he approached her again the following day, she told him “no, I’m 14,” but he persisted in his attempts to kiss her and placed his hand on her thigh.
The adult victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sexually assaulted on 8 July when she tried to help Kebatu with his CV. She described feeling “shocked” and “uncomfortable” when he touched her leg and attempted to kiss her whilst telling her she was pretty.
The brave woman confronted Kebatu when she later saw him speaking to what she described as a “young schoolgirl.” Though he initially ran away, she caught up with him near The Bell Hotel whilst on a 999 call with police. She told the court Kebatu was “begging, pleading and apologising” and repeatedly saying “I’m sorry, I’m going to go, it was a mistake.”
Body-worn camera footage of Kebatu’s arrest showed him becoming tearful after being handcuffed, eventually falling to his knees on the pavement next to a police car.
Throughout his three-day trial, Kebatu, who described himself as a “teacher of sports” in Ethiopia, maintained his innocence, telling the court he was “not a wild animal” and insisting “I can’t do these kind of things, this is anti-Christian – these are just children, innocent children.
However, District Judge Williams found the evidence against him “clear and consistent,” stating there was no evidence that any of the child witnesses had “fabricated” their accounts. The judge accused Kebatu of creating “a version of events he’d only decided upon when he took the witness stand.”
The case sparked significant public unrest in July, with protesters gathering outside The Bell Hotel carrying signs reading “Protect our kids.” The demonstrations quickly spread to other hotels housing asylum seekers across the country, leading to both anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations.
The initial protests subsided when the High Court granted a temporary injunction to Epping Forest District Council requiring the removal of the 138 migrant residents from the hotel within 24 days. However, this decision was overturned within a fortnight by the Court of Appeal, with Lord Justice Bean ruling that the High Court judge had made errors that “undermined his decision.”
Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper paid tribute to the victims following the conviction, stating: “First and foremost I would like to pay a personal tribute to both our young victim and our adult victim and every witness who came forward and ensured the evidence put before the court was strong and true.
Rebecca Mundy, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor with CPS East of England, said: “This was an incident which became a cause of deep concern for the local community. Our prosecutors worked carefully and impartially to bring this case to justice according to the law.”
Epping Forest District Council thanked Essex Police following the successful prosecution, with councillors stating: “We hope the successful conviction of Hadush Kebatu will have come as some relief to his victims and their families, although we do not underestimate the lasting impact the crime will have upon all of them.
The case has reignited debate about the housing of asylum seekers in hotels across the UK and the safeguarding measures in place to protect local communities. One protester had told journalists at the time: “We’re fearful for our children. This isn’t a racist thing, I don’t care what colour they are. This was a small market town, but everything has changed. People are scared.”
Kebatu had travelled through Sudan, Libya, Italy and France before arriving in the UK, paying €2,500 (£2,155) for his crossing on what he described as a “rubber dinghy.” Court records showed some confusion over his age, with different documents listing him as either 38 or 41 years old.
The 12-month sentence means Kebatu will likely serve half in custody before being considered for release on licence. However, given his expressed wish to be deported and his immigration status, he may face removal from the UK following the completion of his sentence.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities where asylum seekers are housed, and the importance of robust safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children, from predatory behaviour.
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