Key Highlights
- Hadush Kebatu, a sex offender, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford on October 25, 2024.
- Kebatu sexually assaulted two individuals in Epping, Essex, and faces a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- The Metropolitan Police are urging Kebatu to turn himself in at a police station.
- Prison sources confirm that staff led Kebatu away from HMP Chelmsford towards the station.
Mistaken Release and Sexual Assault Charges
Hadush Kebatu, a migrant sex offender, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford on October 25, 2024. Kebatu had been sentenced to 12 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, as recently as September 23, 2024. He is believed to have made “a number of train journeys” across the London area since his release.
According to sources, Kebatu was seen seeking assistance from members of the public both in Chelmsford and London. His arrest on sexual assault charges sparked protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he had been living while seeking asylum in July 2024.
Risk Assessment and Public Safety
During his sentencing hearing, District Judge Williams made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order against Kebatu. The order was put in place to protect the public, as the judge was “satisfied” that Kebatu posed a risk of sexual harm to female adults and children. Under this order, Kebatu is prohibited from certain activities and required to comply with specific conditions.
Met Police Commander James Conway called on Kebatu to turn himself in, emphasizing his desire for deportation as expressed during sentencing. Conway stated that the best outcome for Kebatu would be to make contact directly with police by calling 999 or reporting to a station.
Government and Public Reactions
The Met Police reported that Kebatu had access to some funds, which were returned as part of his property when he left prison. The BBC understands these funds are personal cash amounting to an unspecified sum but believed sufficient for him to remain in the area temporarily.
Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, criticized the situation, saying it “didn’t think this story could have got worse.” She expressed concern over the government’s failure to fix the error and called for major reforms. “The system is certainly not fit for purpose,” she stated.
Shabnam Chaudhri, a former detective superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, highlighted the complexities in handling prisoner release documents. “There are some real complexities” around these documents, she explained. “The mountain of paperwork that ends up being dealt with is quite staggering.” Chaudhri suggested that systemic issues need addressing rather than blaming individual staff members.
Government Data and Future Implications
The Met Police released a statement urging anyone who has seen Kebatu to contact 101. They also shared new footage of him in London, which will be made available shortly. The government’s annual digest on prisoner releases revealed that 262 prisoners were mistakenly released in the year leading up to March 2025 – a 128% increase from the previous year.
The rise in accidental releases is linked to “a range of operational and legislative changes,” according to the prison service.
Political figures have expressed shock at the incident, with Lewis Adams from Chelmsford stating it was “mind-blowing” that such a mistake could happen. Local residents echoed these sentiments, expressing fear over their proximity to Kebatu.
