Police are continuing a massive manhunt for a convicted sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison instead of being deported on Friday. Hadush Kebatu, a 41-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker, was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention centre but walked free from HMP Chelmsford.
The error has sparked outrage across government and raised serious questions about prison system failures. Kebatu was convicted in September of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Essex, receiving a 12-month sentence and five-year sexual harm prevention order.
Essex Police confirmed Kebatu boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford station at 12:41pm on Friday. Prison services only discovered the error at 12:57pm, giving the convicted offender a crucial 16-minute head start.
Government response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Labour) described the release as "totally unacceptable" and demanded urgent action. "Kebatu must be caught and deported for his crimes," he said, adding that police are "working urgently to track him down."
Justice Secretary David Lammy said he was "appalled" and "livid on behalf of the public" over the catastrophic error. "Let's be clear Kebatu committed a nasty sexual assault involving a young child and a woman," he continued, emphasising the serious nature of the case.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the release as "a level of incompetence that beggars belief." She said on X: "Conservatives voted against Labour's prisoner release program because it was putting predators back on our streets."
Manhunt details
Officers from the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and Essex Police are working together to trace Kebatu. The Prison Service has removed an officer from discharging duties while a full investigation takes place into the systemic failure.
According to Evening Standard and Daily Mail reports, the victim's father has personally gone to Chelmsford jail seeking answers, expressing feeling "let down" by the justice system. Video footage reportedly shows Kebatu casually walking through Chelmsford High Street in his prison tracksuit, asking for directions just minutes after his release.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "He is now walking the streets of Essex. Britain is broken." His social media response has generated massive engagement, amplifying criticism of the government's immigration policies.
Broader prison concerns
According to BBC and Express reports, the incident highlights growing problems with prison releases in England and Wales. Official data shows erroneous releases increased dramatically from 115 to 262 between April 2024 and March 2025, representing a 128% increase that raises questions about systematic failures.
Kebatu had been living at The Bell Hotel in Epping after arriving in the UK on a small boat, which sparked protests outside the accommodation. During his trial at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, he expressed his "firm wish" to be deported.
The court heard he tried to kiss the teenage girl on a bench, made sexually explicit comments, and later sexually assaulted both her and a woman who had offered to help him find work. He was also given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Sources used: "BBC", "Evening Standard", "Daily Mail", "Express"
Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
