When news broke last week that Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a convicted child sex offender from Ethiopia, had been mistakenly released from a UK prison, a wave of public outrage swept across Britain. The blunder, which saw Kebatu freed from HMP Chelmsford on October 24, 2025, instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre, triggered a frantic manhunt and reignited fierce debate over the country’s handling of immigration and criminal justice.
Kebatu, 38, had arrived in England on June 29, 2025, crossing the English Channel in a small boat—a journey made by more than 36,900 people so far this year, surpassing the total for all of 2024, according to Reuters. Just days after his arrival, he committed a series of sexual offences, including the assault of a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, while staying at the Bell Hotel, a facility used to house asylum seekers. These crimes led to his arrest in July and, ultimately, a 12-month prison sentence in September, as reported by The Guardian and BBC.
The details of Kebatu’s offences were chilling. According to court records cited by The Guardian, he made sexually explicit remarks to the teenage girl before later attempting to kiss her and a separate woman on consecutive days. His actions sparked not only legal proceedings but also public disorder outside the Bell Hotel, quickly becoming a flashpoint for anti-immigration protests and clashes between far-right activists and anti-racism campaigners. Demonstrations soon spread to other cities, reflecting the growing tensions over migration and the government’s use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers.
The mistaken release of Kebatu from prison on October 24 was, in the words of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, a "blunder that embarrassed the government and sparked a large police search." The error was reportedly due to human error, with a discharging manager at HMP Chelmsford suspended pending the outcome of an independent inquiry. Meanwhile, Kebatu wandered the streets in a confused state, reportedly returning to the prison several times seeking help, only to be turned away. He later told Sky News from Ethiopia, "I [told] police, look here, police I am wanted man, I am arrested, I will give you my hand, please help where is police station? He ignored me, he drove [off]." However, the Metropolitan Police said they had no evidence to support Kebatu’s claim that he tried to hand himself in, stating that his actions appeared more like those of someone attempting to evade capture.
The manhunt lasted two days, with Kebatu eventually being re-arrested in Finsbury Park, north London, on October 26. The rapid response was praised by Home Secretary Mahmood, who said, "I would like to thank the police for rapidly bringing Mr Kebatu into custody and the public for their vigilance." Yet, the saga was far from over. As plans were made for his deportation, Kebatu reportedly threatened to disrupt the removal flight. In a move that has since drawn sharp criticism, officials authorized a £500 discretionary payment to Kebatu to ensure his compliance and avoid costly delays or legal challenges. According to The Independent, this payment was an "operational decision" taken by officials, not ministers, after Kebatu’s application for a more generous resettlement grant (up to £1,500) was denied.
Downing Street defended the payment, explaining that the alternative could have involved further detention, a new flight costing thousands of pounds, and potential legal action. "Given Kebatu threatened to disrupt the flight, an operational decision was taken to facilitate his return," a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said. The government’s facilitated returns scheme, established nearly two decades ago, typically offers resettlement grants to foreign national offenders willing to leave voluntarily. However, "forcible" returns, such as Kebatu’s, do not usually involve payments—making this case particularly contentious.
Kebatu was deported to Ethiopia on the night of October 28, accompanied by five escorts, and arrived in Addis Ababa the following morning. Home Secretary Mahmood declared, "I have pulled every lever to deport Mr Kebatu and remove him off British soil. I am pleased to confirm this vile child sex offender has been deported. Our streets are safer because of it." She added, "If you come to this country and commit crimes, we will remove you."
The fallout from the case has been swift and severe. The Conservatives labelled the payment to Kebatu an "absolute disgrace," with Kemi Badenoch’s spokesperson insisting, "We have said we need to leave the ECHR and deport all foreign criminals as soon as possible, and we certainly shouldn’t be giving them taxpayers’ money to leave our country." Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman described the episode as "hugely damaging to public trust," arguing, "It is utterly unacceptable that public safety was put at risk. This was a grave mistake, and my constituents now deserve a full answer as to how such a serious failure was allowed to happen."
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy echoed these concerns, calling the incident "unacceptable" and attributing it to human error. He announced an independent inquiry into the release blunder, emphasizing the need to "get to the bottom of what happened." Enhanced checks for prison releases have also been ordered to prevent similar errors in the future.
The government’s broader struggle to manage migration has come under renewed scrutiny. With more than 36,900 people crossing the Channel in small boats so far this year—an all-time high—public frustration has grown over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers and the perceived inability to control borders. The BBC and Reuters both highlighted the case’s role in fueling anti-migrant protests and political debate, with critics from across the spectrum seizing on the incident as a symbol of systemic failure.
Adding to the controversy is the revelation, reported by The Independent, that the UK has paid £53 million to migrants over the past four years to encourage voluntary departures, with individual grants sometimes reaching £3,000. While the government argues that such payments can save taxpayers money by avoiding prolonged detention and legal battles, the optics of paying a convicted sex offender to leave the country have proved especially damaging.
As the dust settles, the Kebatu affair stands as a stark illustration of the challenges facing Britain’s immigration and criminal justice systems. From administrative errors and costly operational decisions to the political fallout and public anger, the episode has left many demanding answers—and determined to see reform.
With an independent inquiry underway and new safeguards promised, officials have pledged to learn from the mistakes that led to Kebatu’s release and deportation. For now, the case remains a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over migration, justice, and public safety in Britain.
