Ethiopian national deported following UK prison release error

Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, has been deported to Ethiopia following a significant administrative error. Kebatu, who was residing at the Bell Hotel asylum accommodation, was sentenced to 12 months in custody but was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford. This error triggered a 48-hour manhunt that ended when police located him in London.

The mistaken release caused widespread outrage, including from the teenage victim and government officials. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “totally unacceptable,” while Justice Secretary David Lammy announced an independent investigation into the error. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that Kebatu was deported with “no right to return.”

The original crimes committed by Kebatu sparked violent disorder in July 2025 at the Bell Hotel. During these protests, several British men were sentenced to longer terms than Kebatu for their roles in the unrest. Charlie Land received 32 months and Jonathan Glover received 30 months for violent disorder, which included attacking police vehicles and officers. The policing operation related to the protests cost more than £1.5 million.