In a saga that has rattled Britain’s political landscape, a convicted sex offender and asylum-seeker, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, was mistakenly released from a UK prison last Friday, sparking a frantic 48-hour manhunt that ended with his re-arrest in north London’s Finsbury Park on Sunday morning. The incident has not only embarrassed government officials but also reignited fierce debate over immigration, public safety, and the state of the country’s prison system.
Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who arrived in England by boat in July 2025, was sentenced in September to 12 months in custody for five offenses, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex. His crimes, committed just over a week after his arrival, had already drawn national attention and ignited protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, where he and other asylum-seekers were being housed. According to BBC News, these demonstrations soon spread to other British cities and towns, sometimes descending into disorder as far-right activists joined the fray. Counterprotests were organized by the group Stand Up to Racism, highlighting the deep divisions in public sentiment over migration and asylum policies.
The chain of errors began on October 24, 2025, when Kebatu was mistakenly categorized as a prisoner eligible for release from HMP Chelmsford, Essex, rather than being transferred to an immigration detention center for deportation. Authorities were alerted to the blunder only after Kebatu had already boarded a London-bound train, according to Sky News. During the confusion, Kebatu was seen in Chelmsford city center, speaking to members of the public and seeking assistance. CCTV footage later captured him at a library in Dalston, still wearing a prison-issue grey tracksuit and carrying a distinctive white bag decorated with avocados.
The error was quickly labeled an "egregious failure" by government officials. Justice Secretary David Lammy swiftly ordered a full independent inquiry, promising to outline its terms in Parliament. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, stating, "The justice secretary has ordered an investigation into how on earth it was that a dangerous man who was due for deportation was instead released onto our streets. That work is under way, we will be open and transparent with the public about what went wrong and what we’re going to do about it." (BBC News)
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed the gravity of the situation, telling Sky News, "This man was behind bars because of serious sex offenses. He is not meant to be in this country. In fact, what was supposed to be happening is he was meant to be transferred for deportation. So the idea that he’s loose on our streets is incredibly serious. It is a serious failure." Streeting later added, "The arrest was a huge relief and Kebatu will now be deported."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer weighed in, assuring the public that an investigation was already underway and vowing, "We must make sure this doesn’t happen again." According to BBC News, Starmer and his government plan to deport Kebatu as soon as possible, with Sky News reporting that the deportation is scheduled for October 28, 2025.
The blunder has triggered intense scrutiny of the UK’s prison and immigration systems. A delivery driver named Sim, who was at HMP Chelmsford on the day of the release, described Kebatu as "confused" as prison staff guided him to the railway station. Justice Secretary Lammy confirmed that Sim’s account would be used as part of the independent inquiry, which aims to unravel how the mistake occurred and who should be held responsible.
Political leaders from across the spectrum have weighed in. Sir Keir Starmer ordered an investigation to "establish what went wrong," while opposition parties insisted the government had "serious questions" to answer. Zia Yusuf, head of policy for Reform UK, remarked that the situation was a sign of "Britain’s descent into a Monty Python sketch." Former Conservative Justice Secretary Alex Chalk called for increased resources for the prison service, arguing, "My constant plea is to try to ensure the prison service gets the resources it requires to ensure we are recruiting and retaining people with skills and experience to make sure these problems don’t happen." Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, Marie Goldman, demanded that Kebatu "must now be deported" and joined calls for a national inquiry. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed the incident demonstrated the "disintegration" of the UK’s once-trusted institutions.
According to a report from His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, the problem of wrongful releases is growing. Between April 2024 and March 2025, 262 prisoners in England and Wales were released in error—more than double the 115 reported in the previous year. A senior prison staffer, speaking to BBC News, attributed the mistake to "a series of mistakes probably because staff are overworked and in short supply," cautioning against blaming a single officer. Nevertheless, a prison officer has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, and the Prison Service has instructed all governors in England and Wales to implement additional release checks by Monday.
Kebatu’s mistaken release has had a profound impact on his victims. The father of the 14-year-old girl told BBC News through a statement read by local councillor Shane Yerrell that the error had caused his daughter "so much stress and anxiety" and called the incident "unbelievably irresponsible." The girl reportedly feared encountering Kebatu again and being recognized by him, underscoring the real human cost of bureaucratic failures.
Kebatu, who denied the charges but was found guilty, was also handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order and required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. During his trial, it was stated that Kebatu’s "firm wish" was to be deported. Under the UK Borders Act 2007, any foreign national convicted of a crime and sentenced to at least 12 months in prison must face a deportation order.
The episode has thrown a harsh spotlight on broader issues of unauthorized migration and the government’s controversial policy of housing asylum-seekers in hotels. More than 36,900 people have crossed the English Channel from France to the UK so far this year, surpassing the total for all of 2024. Efforts to stem the tide have so far proved ineffective, and the use of hotels to house migrants awaiting asylum decisions remains highly contentious, fueling both public outrage and political debate.
As the dust settles, the government faces mounting pressure to restore public confidence in its institutions and prevent such a dangerous lapse from recurring. For now, officials promise swift action, thorough investigation, and policy reform—but for many, the memory of Kebatu’s brief and alarming freedom will linger as a stark warning of the consequences when systems fail.
