Police have launched a manhunt to find an asylum seeker jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl who has been accidentally freed from prison, prompting the Deputy Prime Minister to express fury over the catastrophic blunder.
David Lammy said he is appalled at the release in error at HMP Chelmsford and has ordered an urgent investigation into how convicted sex offender Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly let loose instead of being transferred for deportation.
Following reports that the Deputy Prime Minister is furious about the incident, he posted on social media platform X stating that authorities are urgently working with police to track Kebatu down. He declared that Kebatu must be deported for his crimes, not on our streets.
A Prison Service officer has been removed from duties after Kebatu, 38, was accidentally released from jail, Sky News understands. The suspension suggests serious failings in procedures that should have prevented the release.
Separately, a Prison Service spokesperson said they are urgently working with police to return an offender to custody following a release in error at HMP Chelmsford. The statement confirmed that public protection is their top priority and they have launched an investigation into the incident.
Hadush Kebatu was supposed to be sent to an immigration detention centre to await deportation but was instead accidentally let loose, according to earlier reports. Police officers have now launched a major search to locate the Ethiopian national.
The 38-year-old acted ignorantly and repulsively when he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old schoolgirl and another woman just days after arriving in the country on a small boat, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard during his trial.
Kebatu became aroused as he put his hand on the girl’s thighs and stroked her hair despite knowing full well she was only 14 years old. The court heard he was fully aware of the victim’s age when he committed the assault.
The defendant, who was a teacher of sports in his home country, then tried to kiss a woman who attempted to intervene in the attack. He put his hand on her leg and told her she was pretty, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behaviour.
The offences took place on 7th and 8th July this year at accommodation housing asylum seekers in Epping. The rapid escalation from arrival to serious sexual offending shocked investigators and the local community.
Kebatu’s arrest sparked a wave of anti-migrant protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country during the summer. The case became a flashpoint in debates about immigration policy and public safety.
The mistaken release represents a catastrophic failure in the prison and immigration system that has now reached the highest levels of government. Kebatu should have been transferred directly from prison to an immigration removal centre pending deportation to Ethiopia.
Prison Service protocols require coordination between custodial staff, immigration enforcement and deportation teams to ensure foreign national offenders facing removal are properly transferred. The breakdown in this process has allowed a convicted sex offender to disappear.
The removal of a prison officer from duties suggests that individual error rather than systemic failure may be responsible. However, questions remain about why safeguards designed to prevent such mistakes did not catch the error before release.
Police have not disclosed details of when the error was discovered or how long Kebatu has been at large. The delay in alerting the public to his release will likely fuel criticism of authorities’ handling of the case.
Officers are urging anyone with information about Kebatu’s whereabouts to contact police immediately. They have warned the public not to approach him but to call 999 if he is spotted.
The manhunt will involve checking known addresses, reviewing CCTV footage, and coordinating with immigration enforcement teams who maintain intelligence on asylum seeker networks. Border Force will be alerted to prevent any attempt to leave the country.
Lammy’s strong public statement reflects both the seriousness of the error and the political sensitivity surrounding asylum seekers and crime. As Deputy Prime Minister, his intervention signals that the Government views the incident as a major failure requiring accountability.
The Home Office faces questions about why deportation arrangements were not finalised before Kebatu’s release date. Critics argue foreign national sex offenders should never be freed into the community if removal cannot be immediately executed.
The 14-year-old victim and the adult woman Kebatu assaulted will now face renewed trauma knowing their attacker has been mistakenly freed. Victim support services will need to provide additional counselling and reassurance.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about vetting and supervision of asylum seekers housed in hotels across Britain. Communities hosting such accommodation have repeatedly raised safety concerns.
Kebatu’s description of himself as a sports teacher in Ethiopia raises questions about whether he had access to children in positions of trust before arriving in the UK. No information has been disclosed about any background checks conducted.
The speed with which he committed serious sexual offences after arrival suggests predatory behaviour rather than cultural misunderstanding. His targeting of a child demonstrates calculated criminality.
Anti-immigration campaigners will seize on the case as evidence that small boat arrivals pose unacceptable risks to public safety. The mistaken release will intensify calls for stricter detention and faster deportation procedures.
The Prison Service investigation will need to establish whether the error resulted from individual negligence, inadequate systems, or miscommunication between agencies. Findings could lead to changes in procedures for handling foreign national offenders.
Immigration detention centres are designed specifically to hold foreign nationals awaiting removal from the UK. They provide secure custody whilst preventing indefinite imprisonment of people who have not been charged with crimes.
However, capacity constraints in the immigration detention estate mean spaces must be carefully managed. Whether lack of available space contributed to Kebatu’s mistaken release to the community remains unclear.
Ministers will face parliamentary questions about the failure and what steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents. Opposition parties are likely to demand explanations for how such a serious error could occur.
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Image Credit:
The Rt Hon David Lammy MP — photo by Tunisian Presidency / Handout via Xinhua (31 January 2025, Tunis) licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
