A sex offender convicted of crimes against a minor and a woman in Essex, who was mistakenly released from prison and fled to London, has been deported back to his home country.
Hadush Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian national, was released in error from HMP Chelmsford but has now been sent back to Ethiopia with a ban on returning to the UK, as confirmed by the Home Office. Kebatu, who had recently received a 12-month prison sentence for sexual offenses, triggered a significant manhunt in the south east after his unintended release.
Originally scheduled for deportation, Kebatu eluded authorities and was found at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, where he committed the crimes.
After being on the run, Kebatu was apprehended in the Finsbury Park area by Scotland Yard officers. He was captured near a bus stop in north London, wearing a black jacket and jeans, and escorted by plain-clothed police to a waiting van with his head covered by a hood.
Reports indicate that Kebatu, who entered the UK by boat in June, left prison with personal funds but without financial assistance for living costs.
Witnesses observed Kebatu repeatedly attempting to return to HMP Chelmsford, only to be redirected to the train station by prison staff. An investigation is underway, and a prison officer has been relieved of duties related to prisoner releases.
Kebatu’s brief escape raised concerns about the circumstances of his release, prompting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to affirm the deportation as a significant step in enhancing public safety.
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