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a migrant Who sexually assaulted a woman and a 14 year old girl when he was staying in a hotel Epping – Accidentally released from prison early – sparking large protests.
Hadush Kebatu He was supposed to be sent to an immigration detention center for deportation, but was accidentally released on Friday,
a major police search Now the work of bringing him back into custody is going on. Essex Police said he boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford railway station at 12.41pm after the error.,
Video obtained by MailOnline shows a man resembling Kebatu wearing a gray tracksuit and carrying a plastic bag in Chelmsford town center shortly after his release.
David Lammy said he was “furious on behalf of the public” as he urged Kebatu to surrender himself and said he had launched an investigation into “what happened in the prison service to allow this to happen”.
The Justice Secretary told broadcasters: “I am angry. I am angry on behalf of the public that this man who sexually assaulted a young minor and a woman is at large tonight.”
Sir Keir Starmer said the mistaken release was “completely unacceptable” and the government was supporting police in their efforts to trace them.
“I am shocked that this has happened and it is being investigated,” the Prime Minister said. “The police are working urgently to locate him and my government is supporting them. This man must be caught and deported for his crimes.”
A prison officer has been removed from duty while officials investigate the error, Independent Understands.
Essex Police said they were informed of the error at 12.57pm by the prison service and have launched an investigation.
The force said inquiries revealed that Kebatu “boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford railway station at 12.41pm”.
Kebatu was found guilty of five offenses following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates’ courts in September.
He was jailed for 12 months and made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order, with a judge warning that he posed a “significant risk of re-offending”.
He was also added to the UK sex offenders register for 10 years, which means he will be closely monitored.
A three-day trial at Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard he told two teenagers he “wanted to have a baby with each of them” and attempted to kiss them.
He then placed his hand on one of the girl’s thighs and stroked her hair, the court heard.
The Ethiopian national, who had come to Britain on a small boat a few days earlier, was also found sexually assaulting a woman by trying to kiss her, placing his hand on her leg and calling her beautiful.
Sentencing Kebatu last month, a judge told him his behavior “really highlights the poor respect you have for women”.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are working urgently with police to return an offender to custody following his mistaken release at HMP Chelmsford.
“Public safety is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident.”
The crimes on July 7 led to large protests and counter-protests outside The Bell Hotel, where he was staying, and eventually in hotels. Housing asylum seekers across the country,
Chelmsford MP Mary Goldman has called for a “prompt public inquiry” into how Kebatu was mistakenly released from prison after the search for him ended.
In a statement, the Lib Dem MP said: “I am following developments closely and have been in contact with the police and prison.
“Police must make every possible effort to ensure that this individual is immediately returned to custody so that he can be deported immediately.
“Once the search is over, there must be a full, swift public inquiry into how it happened. This is completely unacceptable and has potentially put my constituents at risk. I look forward to answers from the Prison Service.”
Reacting to the incident, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “The Epping hotel migrant sex attacker has been mistakenly freed rather than deported.
“He’s now roaming the streets of Essex. Britain is broken.”