Dear 222 News viewers, sponsored by smileband,
Convicted sex offender on the run after mistaken release from prison
Who is the offender
The individual at the centre of this case is Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 41-year-old Ethiopian national. He was convicted in September 2025 of multiple sexual offences, including the sexual assault of a woman and of a 14-year-old girl. He received a 12-month prison sentence and was also placed under a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Kebatu arrived in the UK in June via an irregular small boat crossing and soon after his arrival committed the offences when staying at a hotel in the Epping area (Bell Hotel, Epping).
What happened? The mistaken release
On Friday 24 October 2025, Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford (in Essex) after only 31 days of his 12-month sentence. The release was in error — he was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention centre and then deported.
Key facts:
• He was handed a discharge grant of £76 upon release.
• He left the prison wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit top and bottoms, carrying a clear plastic bag containing his belongings.
• A witness (delivery driver) at the prison said Kebatu remained outside the prison for about an hour and a half, visibly confused and repeatedly asking officers for help before being instructed to take a train.
The manhunt and public safety concerns
Following his release, the manhunt was launched. The Metropolitan Police Service (MET) took over the search from Essex Police, saying they have “high confidence” that Kebatu is in the London area.
• He was last seen shortly before 8 pm on Friday in the Dalston area of Hackney, East London, still wearing his prison-issue grey tracksuit, and carrying a white bag with pictures of avocados on it.
• Police believe he has access to funds and has already been seen travelling on trains across London.
• Authorities are urging anyone with information to dial 999 or contact a police station — they emphasise that this is a public safety priority.
Systemic failure and political fallout
This case is not just about one person — it has exposed serious issues in prison release procedures. Some of the wider implications:
• In the year to March 2025, there were 262 prisoners mistakenly released in England and Wales — a 128% increase on the previous year.
• An inspection of HMP Chelmsford in early 2024 found the prison under “considerable pressures”, with staff shortages and high volumes of transfers and releases.
• The UK Justice Secretary David Lammy described the error as “totally unacceptable” and ordered an urgent independent investigation.
• The case has added fuel to debates around immigration, asylum-seeker accommodation (such as the hotel in Epping) and public trust in the criminal justice and prison systems.
What happens next?
• Police continue to scour CCTV across London and transport hubs, particularly focusing on train routes from Essex into the capital.
• The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) are introducing new mandatory checks for prison releases — such as duty governors signing off on releases the evening before, to reduce risk of similar errors.
• The public have been asked to remain vigilant, report any sightings of Kebatu, and not to approach him. The MET emphasises the best outcome is for him to turn himself in. 
Why this matters
• The man released is a convicted sex offender found guilty of crimes involving a minor. His having escaped custody by error poses a serious risk.
• The incident undermines public confidence in the justice system — especially given high-profile context of asylum-seeker accommodation, protests and tensions in the Epping area.
• The procedural failure shows how over-stretched prisons and administrative back-logs can lead to dangerous outcomes.
• There is a larger policy dimension: immigration, asylum, prison capacity, and the management of foreign nationals subject to deportation.
Conclusion
The case of Hadush Kebatu’s accidental release from HMP Chelmsford, and his subsequent disappearance, is a major wake-up call. It demonstrates how human error and systemic dysfunction in prison release processes can lead to potentially grave consequences for public safety. The continuing manhunt in London remains active, and the political and operational consequences are still playing out.
Attached is a News article regarding a sex offender on the run from Epping after being released from prison early
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx4k2d5yxlo.amp
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
In-- Google tag (gtag.js) --> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XDGJVZXVQ4"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-XDGJVZXVQ4'); </script>
<script src="https://cdn-eu.pagesense.io/js/smilebandltd/45e5a7e3cddc4e92ba91fba8dc
No comments:
Post a Comment