On September 23, 2025, the quiet market town of Epping, Essex found itself at the center of a national debate as Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian asylum seeker, was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman. The case, which unfolded over the course of the summer, drew intense public scrutiny, sparked protests, and reignited discussions about the UK’s asylum system and the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals.
Kebatu’s arrival in the UK was itself a harrowing journey. According to court testimony reported by BBC News and The Independent, he traveled through Sudan, Libya, Italy, and France, ultimately crossing the Channel by small boat—a journey he claimed cost him €2,500 (£2,155). He arrived in the UK just eight days before the assaults occurred, taking up residence at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which was being used to house asylum seekers.
On July 7 and 8, 2025, Kebatu’s actions would change the lives of two women forever and set off a cascade of events in the community. The court heard that Kebatu approached a 14-year-old girl, who was wearing her school uniform, in Epping town centre. He attempted to kiss her, placed his hand on her thigh, and made deeply inappropriate comments. "Come back to Africa, you would be a good wife," he told the girl and her friend, according to a child witness. The girl later recounted to police, "Out of nowhere, he said: 'I want one baby from you and one baby from your friend.'" The next day, Kebatu was seen telling the same girl she was pretty, again attempting to kiss her and touching her inappropriately. When the girl protested, saying, "No, I'm 14," Kebatu allegedly replied, "Age did not matter."
The impact on the young victim was profound. In her statement, she revealed, "Every time I go out with my friends I am checking over my shoulder." She described feeling vulnerable and exposed, particularly when wearing a skirt, and said that seeing the bench where the assault took place continually brought back memories of the incident. She added, "I’m aware there have been protests because of what has happened – I’m lucky that I was not in the country when that happened."
But Kebatu’s behavior did not stop with the teenager. On July 8, he sexually assaulted a woman who had offered to help him with his CV. The woman later told the court that Kebatu “took advantage of my kindness” by placing his hand on her thigh and attempting to kiss her. "He did not even appear to know that what he’s done was wrong," she said, describing her lingering anger and frustration. The incident left her feeling worried to leave her house, and she admitted, "I think about this incident most nights before bed." When she later saw Kebatu speaking to the schoolgirl and her friends, she intervened and called the police, ultimately helping to bring Kebatu to justice.
The judge, District Judge Christopher Williams, did not mince words during sentencing. He described the experience endured by the schoolgirl as “disgusting and sickening,” and told Kebatu, “It must've been abundantly clear to you that your behaviour was unwanted.” The judge further noted that Kebatu had tried to portray himself as a victim and scapegoat, and that his remorse appeared to be more for the consequences of his actions than for the harm caused. "You sought to portray yourself as a victim and that you'd been made to be a scapegoat," Judge Williams said. He also pointed out that Kebatu had attempted suicide while on remand, reportedly overwhelmed by the "mass demonstrations" and chaos his actions had triggered in Epping. Prosecutor Stuart Cowen added, "He says because of the situation, Epping was in chaos and he'd got a lot of other migrants in trouble."
The fallout from Kebatu’s arrest was swift and dramatic. Demonstrations and counter-demonstrations erupted outside The Bell Hotel, with protesters expressing outrage over the crimes and broader concerns about the use of local hotels for asylum seeker accommodation. The unrest in Epping soon spread to other towns, with similar protests taking place outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country. The controversy also prompted Epping Forest District Council to take legal action against Somani Hotels, the operators of The Bell Hotel, with a full hearing scheduled for October 13, 2025.
Kebatu, who told the court he was a “teacher of sports” in Ethiopia and described children as “the future of tomorrow, the new generation,” insisted during his trial, “I am not a wild animal. I can’t do these kind of things, this is anti-Christian – these are just children, innocent children.” Despite his denials, the court found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence. The judge concluded there was "no realistic prospect" of Kebatu being rehabilitated, describing him as "manipulative" and having a "poor regard for women." A pre-sentencing report indicated he became "visibly aroused" when asking the girl to kiss another child, and the judge determined Kebatu posed a "significant risk of reoffending."
As part of his sentence, Kebatu must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and is subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was also ordered to pay £650 in prosecution costs and a £187 victim surcharge.
The Home Office has confirmed it will seek to deport Kebatu after he serves his prison sentence, as required by the UK Borders Act 2007 for foreign nationals convicted of an offence with a custodial sentence of at least 12 months. Kebatu’s barrister, Molly Dyas, stated, “Mr Kebatu's firm wish is to be deported as soon as possible.” A Home Office spokesperson said, “When foreign nationals commit serious crimes in our country, we will always do everything in our power to deport them.”
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper of Essex Police praised the courage of the victims, stating, “They came forward and trusted us with their experience and today I want to say a personal thank you to them for their courage.”
As Epping and the wider community grapple with the aftermath of these crimes, the case of Hadush Kebatu stands as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the UK’s asylum system and the importance of safeguarding all residents, old and new alike.
