Dramatic footage of an asylum seeker breaking down in tears during his arrest for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl has been shown to a packed courtroom as protests continue to rock the Essex town of Epping.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, wept as police officers handcuffed him and told him he was being arrested “on suspicion of sexual assault of a female under 16-years-old” in video evidence presented at Colchester Magistrates’ Court. The Ethiopian national, who speaks Tigrinya and arrived in Britain on a rubber dinghy after paying €2,500 (£2,140), denies all charges against him.
The alleged incident, which sparked nationwide protests against asylum hotels and led to violent clashes requiring hundreds of police officers, occurred just eight days after Kebatu arrived in the UK on 29 June.
Pizza Offer Led to Alleged Assault
Prosecutors told the court that Kebatu approached the uniformed teenager and her friends while they were sitting on a bench after school on 7 July. The schoolgirl had allegedly offered him a slice of her pizza when the asylum seeker complimented her appearance and expressed a desire to “make babies” with her.
The court heard he returned the following day and allegedly grabbed the 14-year-old’s thigh, telling her she would make “a good wife” and attempting to persuade her to accompany him back to the Bell Hotel in Epping High Street.
In the arrest footage shown to magistrates, Kebatu appeared bewildered as he sat in the back of a police car with blue lights flashing. “How much minutes?” he asked the arresting officer in broken English.
“You’re going to the police station now. You’re under arrest,” the officer replied before attempting to apply handcuffs. As Kebatu became increasingly distressed and tearful, the officer sought to reassure him: “Don’t cry, it’s going to be okay.”
Multiple Alleged Victims Emerge
The trial’s second day revealed Kebatu faces additional allegations involving an adult woman who cannot be named for legal reasons. She told the court the defendant made her feel “shocked” and “uncomfortable” after allegedly touching her leg when she offered to help him with his CV.
The witness testified that Kebatu was “begging, pleading and apologising” when she later confronted him about the alleged assault on the teenager. She firmly rejected defence claims she had fabricated her account, stating: “I know exactly what I saw. I’ve no issue with asylum seekers.
Police interviews with male friends of the teenage victim were played to the court, with witnesses describing how Kebatu allegedly told the girl he wanted her to go back to the hotel to “have babies then… go to Kenya.”
The defendant faces five charges in total: three counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault, one count of harassment without violence, and one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
‘I Am Not a Wild Animal’
Taking the stand in his defence, Kebatu vehemently denied all allegations, invoking his religious beliefs and professional background. “I am not a wild animal, I can’t do these things. These are children, they are fragile. I am a Christian, it is not in my culture,” he told the court.
The defendant claimed to have worked as a teacher in Ethiopia before making the perilous journey to Britain. When questioned about his presence in Epping on the days in question, he asserted: “This is the UK, I have a right of movement. I was walking with my friend.”
Kebatu maintained he had not engaged in any conversation with the teenager or her friends, explaining he had been preoccupied with concerns about his asylum application at the time of the alleged incidents.
Town Erupts in Violence
The charges against Kebatu sparked a wave of protests that saw Epping descend into violence throughout July. What began as peaceful demonstrations by local mothers quickly escalated as far-right groups, including members of the neo-Nazi Homeland Party, became involved in organising protests through social media.
More than 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Bell Hotel chanting “Save our kids” and “Send them home,” with some throwing flares and projectiles at police vans. The unrest resulted in 23 arrests and 14 people charged with various offences including violent disorder and assault on emergency workers.
Eight Police officers sustained injuries during the clashes, prompting Essex Police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow to condemn the violence: “These are the actions of criminals, who we will be pursuing for arrest. Nothing about the offending we saw is representative of the concerns of any local residents.”
Council Wins Landmark Court Victory
The protests ultimately led to a landmark High Court ruling on Tuesday ordering the removal of all 138 asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel by 12 September. Epping Forest District Council successfully argued the building was not being used for its intended purpose as a hotel.
Council leader Chris Whitbread, who has gathered over 4,500 signatures on a petition demanding the hotel’s closure, warned: “Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable.”
The Home Office has announced it will appeal the decision, warning it could “substantially impact” the government’s ability to house asylum seekers across Britain. Currently, 210 hotels accommodate approximately 32,000 asylum seekers nationwide at a daily cost exceeding £8 million.
Far-Right Exploitation Condemned
Government officials have acknowledged legitimate local concerns while condemning the involvement of extremist groups. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said protesters were “upset for legitimate reasons” but warned against far-right infiltration of peaceful demonstrations.
The case has become a flashpoint in Britain’s immigration debate, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage pledging that councils controlled by his party will pursue similar legal challenges. Even some Labour councils have indicated they may follow Epping’s example.
A second asylum seeker from the Bell Hotel, Syrian national Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, has since been charged with sexual assault on a male and multiple counts of assault by beating. He has pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Trial Continues
As Kebatu’s trial continues, the case has exposed deep divisions over Britain’s asylum system and the use of hotels to accommodate new arrivals. The government has pledged to end the practice by 2029 but faces mounting pressure to act more quickly.
Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, stated: “We are working to close hotels, restore order, and put fairness and value for money at the heart of our asylum system.”
For residents like local mother Lindsey Thompson, who organised peaceful protests, the issue is about community safety: “We choose to live here because it’s a really safe, lovely town to live in. I’ll take anybody into our town who’s been vetted. Take them away, find out who they are, vet them, and then when they’re vetted, then we can talk about how we house them.”
Kebatu’s trial at Colchester Magistrates’ Court is expected to continue into next week. He remains in custody after being denied bail following his initial court appearance on 10 July.
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