UK deportation and criminal justice issues

Recent reports highlight instances of foreign nationals remaining in the United Kingdom following criminal convictions for sexual offenses, often due to administrative or deportation delays.

In one case, an Ethiopian national, Hadush Kebatu, was deported to Ethiopia after a significant administrative error led to his mistaken release from HMP Chelmsford following a 12-month sentence for sexual assault. The error prompted a 48-hour manhunt and drew condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described the incident as “totally unacceptable.” This individual’s original crimes had previously been linked to violent disorder at an asylum accommodation in July 2025.

Further complicating the issue of deportation failures, Radiet Meles, an Eritrean national and former soldier, was found guilty of rape and assault by beating at Cardiff Crown Court. Meles, who entered the UK illegally in 2015, was involved in an attack on a woman in Newport, South Wales, in March 2026. Despite a 2019 conviction for attempted rape, where a judge noted he would likely face deportation and immigration detention upon release, Meles remained in the country. After serving a five-year sentence, he returned to Newport before his recent conviction. He is expected to face sentencing on November 20.