British authorities are in the midst of a high-profile manhunt after the mistaken release of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The incident, which unfolded on Friday, October 24, 2025, has ignited a storm of political recrimination, public concern, and renewed debate over the United Kingdom’s handling of asylum seekers and the integrity of its criminal justice system.
Kebatu, who arrived in England by boat just over a week before July 7, 2025, was sentenced last month to 12 months in prison for a series of offenses, including sexual assault, inciting a minor to engage in sexual activity, and harassment. The court heard that he had approached a teenage girl in Epping, Essex, attempted to kiss her, and placed his hand on her thigh. He also sexually assaulted a woman who intervened and had offered to help him find work. According to BBC, Kebatu was also given a five-year sexual harm prevention order, barring him from approaching or contacting any female, and was required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
The case had already drawn national attention, sparking heated anti-migrant protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where Kebatu and other newly arrived migrants were housed. Demonstrations soon spread to other parts of the country, some devolving into disorder and attracting far-right activists. Counterprotesters from groups like Stand Up to Racism also mobilized in response, highlighting the deep divisions in British society over migration and asylum policy.
On the morning of October 24, Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford, where he was being held ahead of a planned transfer to an immigration detention center for deportation. Details of the error remain murky, but Essex Police reported being alerted by the prison service just before 1 p.m. that day. Fast-paced inquiries revealed that Kebatu boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford station at 12:41 p.m., setting off a collaborative search effort by Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police, and British Transport Police.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer wasted no time condemning the release. "I am appalled at the totally unacceptable release of this individual," Starmer said, as reported by ABC and BBC. "The police are working urgently to track him down and my government is supporting them. This man must be caught and deported for his crimes." Justice Secretary David Lammy echoed the Prime Minister’s outrage, telling the media he was "appalled and livid on behalf of the public that Kebatu is at large." Lammy described Kebatu as a "dangerous individual," adding, "Let’s be clear, Kebatu committed a nasty sexual assault involving a young child and a woman. And for those reasons this of course is very serious."
The Prison Service has launched an immediate investigation into the blunder, suspending a prison officer from discharge duties while the inquiry is conducted. A spokesperson stated, "Public protection is our top priority, and we have launched an investigation into this incident." According to BBC, the release was first reported by The Sun, and Chelmsford's Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman has called for a rapid public inquiry, declaring, "This is utterly unacceptable and has potentially put my constituents in danger. I expect answers from the Prison Service."
The incident comes amid a period of heightened scrutiny of the UK’s criminal justice system. In a recent report by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, 262 prisoners in England and Wales were released in error between April 2024 and March 2025, more than double the 115 mistakenly released in the previous year. The revelation has fueled criticism from opposition parties and political leaders. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, for example, took to social media to blame the Labour government, stating, "The entire system is collapsing under Labour. Conservatives voted against Labour's prisoner release program because it was putting predators back on our streets. But this man has only just been convicted. A level of incompetence that beggars belief."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was equally blunt, saying, "He is now walking the streets of Essex. Britain is broken." Such remarks underscore the political stakes and the degree to which the issue of migration and crime has become a flashpoint for broader debates about national security, public safety, and government competence.
Kebatu’s case has also reignited controversy over the Labour government’s policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels while their claims are processed. Critics argue the policy is costly—running into millions of pounds for taxpayers—and has turned hotels into flashpoints for community unrest. Proponents counter that the alternative would be to leave vulnerable people without shelter, but even supporters concede that the system is under immense strain. The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which followed Kebatu’s arrest, were part of a nationwide wave of demonstrations targeting migrant accommodation, often attended by both anti-migrant activists and counter-demonstrators.
For many, the episode is emblematic of the challenges facing the UK as it grapples with unauthorized migration, public anxieties about crime, and the logistics of managing a large and complex criminal justice system. Aaron Stow, president of the Criminal Justice Workers’ Union, described Kebatu’s mistaken release as "a profound failure of duty" and "a betrayal of the victims, the community, and the principles of justice."
Adding to the confusion, there is some uncertainty about Kebatu’s exact age. During his trial, Kebatu gave his date of birth as December 1986, making him 38, but court records suggested he may be 41. What is not in doubt, however, is the seriousness of his offenses and the urgency with which authorities are now trying to recapture him.
As of Saturday morning, October 25, 2025, Kebatu remains at large. Police have urged the public not to approach him and to contact authorities immediately with any information regarding his whereabouts. The search continues, and with it, the scrutiny of a system struggling to balance the demands of justice, public safety, and compassion for those seeking refuge.
The fallout from this incident will likely reverberate well beyond Essex, shaping the national conversation on immigration, criminal justice, and government accountability for months to come.