Manhunt underway after migrant who assaulted child is accidentally released from U.K. prison

10/27/2025 / By Belle Carter

Ethiopian migrant Hadush Kebatu, convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, was accidentally released after just 31 days of his one-year sentence, sparking outrage and a police search.
Kebatu was supposed to be transferred to Border Force for deportation, but a prison error led to his release. A prison officer has been suspended, and Kebatu was last seen boarding a train to London in prison-issued clothing.
Leaders across parties condemned the blunder, with PM Keir Starmer calling it “unacceptable” and Nigel Farage declaring “Britain is broken.” Reform UK and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp demanded stricter deportations.
The victim’s father confronted prison officials, echoing widespread frustration over migrant-related crime and weak justice enforcement, which previously fueled violent protests in Epping.
Kebatu’s case adds to growing concerns, with data showing 89 assaults, 43 drug offenses and high-profile sexual attacks by migrants, intensifying scrutiny of hotel housing policies and lax oversight.

A nationwide manhunt is underway in the United Kingdom after Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian migrant convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, was accidentally released from prison just one month into his sentence.

The incident has reignited public outrage over Britain’s immigration policies and raised serious questions about the competence of the justice system. Kebatu’s initial crime in Epping, Essex, last summer sparked violent protests against the housing of undocumented migrants in local hotels. Now, his premature release has further inflamed tensions, with politicians and citizens demanding accountability.

Kebatu, 38, was sentenced in June to one year in prison for two counts of sexual assault and one count of inciting a child to sexual activity. Despite serving only 31 days of his sentence, he was mistakenly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning, Oct. 24. According to Sky News, he was supposed to be transferred to Border Force custody for deportation proceedings—raising questions about how such a critical error occurred.

A prison officer has since been suspended pending an investigation. Meanwhile, Kebatu was spotted wandering Chelmsford in grey prison-issued clothing before boarding a train to London, carrying a plastic bag labeled “evidence” and a Salvation Army magazine. Essex Police confirmed they were alerted to the mistake shortly after noon and launched an urgent manhunt, stating: “We have officers working to urgently locate and detain him.”

Political fallout and public outrage

The blunder has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “totally unacceptable” and vowed Kebatu would be recaptured and deported. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, seized on the scandal, declaring: “Britain is broken.” His party accused Labour of failing to secure borders, contrasting their own pledge to deport foreign criminals with what they framed as government incompetence.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp echoed public frustration, demanding immediate deportations to Rwanda or other destinations.

“This lays bare the risk posed by illegal immigrants to the British public,” he said.

The father of Kebatu’s victim reportedly confronted prison officials Friday night, expressing frustration that “the justice system has let us down.” His anger reflects broader discontent over Britain’s handling of migrant-related crime—a sentiment that fueled last summer’s protests.

Migrant crime and public safety

Kebatu’s case is not isolated. Recent data reveal alarming trends:

89 Assaults, including 27 against police or emergency workers
43 Drug offenses, 18 burglaries and 16 robberies linked to migrants
High-profile cases, such as a Sudanese asylum seeker sentenced to seven years for strangling and attempting to rape a woman in Wakefield

According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, these incidents have intensified scrutiny of the U.K.’s policy of housing undocumented migrants in hotels—a practice that lacks oversight and endangers communities. The Epping protests, which spread nationally, underscored simmering public anger over perceived government recklessness.

As authorities scramble to locate Kebatu, the incident has become a lightning rod for deeper frustrations over immigration, public safety and institutional failures. For many Britons, his premature release symbolizes a justice system in disarray—one that struggles to protect victims while enforcing consequences for criminals. With protests still fresh in memory and political tensions escalating, the government faces mounting pressure to address both the immediate manhunt and the systemic issues it exposes. Until then, the public watches—and waits—for answers.

Watch the video below that talks about crime cover-ups in the United Kingdom.

This video is from the TNTVNEWS channel on Brighteon.com.