Asylum Seeker Sex Offender Arrested in London Manhunt

Strategic Insights -

A high-profile manhunt for a sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison has come to an end, with the individual being arrested in the Finsbury Park area of London. Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday morning after being on the run for several days. The 14-year-old victim of Kebatu's assault was left traumatized after being attacked by the migrant, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian asylum seeker, was jailed for 12 months in September for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.
  • Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre.
  • The migrant took a train from Chelmsford to Stratford, east London, and was later spotted in Dalston carrying a white bag with pictures of avocados on it.
  • The Metropolitan Police led the manhunt, with information from the public assisting in locating Kebatu.
  • Kebatu, who crossed the Channel on June 29, left prison without a discharge grant to cover subsistence costs.
  • A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation takes place.
  • The investigation into Kebatu's release is ongoing.
  • Kebatu will be returned to the custody of the prison service.

Statistics:

  • 12 months: The length of Kebatu's jail sentence for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.
  • 1: The number of prison officers taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation takes place.
  • 29 June: The date Kebatu crossed the Channel from France to enter the UK.
  • 8:30am Sunday: The time of day Kebatu was arrested by the Metropolitan Police.
  • £1m: The value of drugs seized in a separate Highlands police operation.

Sources:

  • Metropolitan Police
  • Police investigating report of 'irregularities' in Alba Party finances ( The Scotsman, 2022)
  • Two charged after drugs worth more than £1m seized in Highlands (The Daily Record, 2022)
  • Police Scotland to crackdown on Bonfire Night disorder (The Scotsman, 2022)