Asylum seekers were released due to apparent errors in the London area, police said

Saturday 25 October 2025 15:29
| Updated:

Saturday 25 October 2025 15.30

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An asylum seeker who was accidentally released from prison was last seen in the London area, police said, as officers urged anyone who saw him to immediately call 999.

Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, who had lived at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was jailed for 12 months in September for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

Kebatu was accidentally released at HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning, instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre.

He was wrongly categorized as a prisoner because he was released on license and given £76 in release funds, the Telegraph reported.

Responsibility for the manhunt has been handed over to the Metropolitan Police after it was confirmed that Kebatu was last seen getting off a train in Stratford in east London at around 1.10pm on Friday.

After his release, a delivery driver described seeing Kebatu return to HMP Chelmsford in a “very confused” state “four or five times”, but was turned away by prison staff and directed to the train station.

The driver, identified only as Sim, told Sky News he saw Kebatu leaving prison saying: “Where do I go? What do I do?”

He said that Kebatu knew he had to be deported but prison staff “basically sent him away” and told him “Go, you’ve been released, you go”.

The driver said: “He kept scratching his head and saying, ‘Where should I go, where should I go?’

“Fourth or fifth time [he went into the reception] he was starting to get annoyed, he was getting more and more stressed.

“I’m not defending the guy, but in my eyes, he was trying to do the right thing.

“He knew he was going to be deported, but he didn’t know where he was going or how he was supposed to get there.”

Kebatu was apparently later seen in Chelmsford town center asking for help before boarding a train to London.

Commander James Conway said finding Kebatu was a “top priority” for the Met and the investigation was being led by “experienced investigative officers.”

“He has a team from Specialist Crime Command with expertise in tracking wanted people, as well as other resources from across the Met,” he said.

“We are checking CCTV from the area and further afield, including on transport links, to gain information about further movements.

“We will provide further updates when we can, but I hope the press and public will understand why it would not help the effectiveness of the hunt if we provided detailed comments.”

Anyone who sees Kebatu, or knows of his whereabouts, is urged to call 999.

No description of the suspect, or what he was allegedly wearing, has been released by police.

Stratford Station is the fifth busiest station in the UK, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), and has connections to the London Underground, London Overground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

Keir Starmer said the accidental discharge was “completely unacceptable”, and added: “I am shocked it happened and it is being investigated.

“The police are working to immediately trace him, and my government is supporting them.

“This man must be arrested and deported for his crimes.”

Deputy Prime Minister Lammy said he was “outraged on behalf of the community” and added that he had launched an investigation.

Home Secretary Chris Philp said Kebatu’s release was an “extraordinary incompetence” and called for a public inquiry.

UK Reform leader Nigel Farage said of the mistake: “Britain is doomed.”

A prison officer has been relieved of his duties to release prisoners while the investigation is underway.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Public protection is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident.”

The release of asylum seekers angered local politicians

Liberal Democrat Chelmsford MP Marie Goldman told the PA news agency she was frustrated with a lack of communication from the governor of HMP Chelmsford, Mark Howard, and said she was “struggling” not to call for him to resign.

Aaron Stow, president of the Criminal Justice Workers Union (CJWU), said Kebatu’s mistaken release was a “gross failure in the performance of his duty”.

He said: “The release of Hadush Kebatu is a betrayal of the victims, society and the principles of justice. We demand a full investigation and immediate reforms to ensure this never happens again.”

In the 12 months to March this year, 262 prisoners were released due to misconduct in England and Wales, according to the prison service’s annual report.

“This is an increase of 128 percent from 115 in the previous year, and is the highest in any time,” the report said.

“Of the 262 exonerations due to errors, 233 of them occurred due to errors in prison institutions, while 29 others were released due to errors in court.”

A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons following inspections in January and February 2024 said HMP Chelmsford was facing “considerable pressure” due to “national capacity issues” while understaffed in reception and pre-release teams.

It said: “The incarcerated and unconvicted population has increased by almost 70% and prisons are now managing more admissions, transfers and immediate releases without additional resources.”

Sentencing Kebatu last month, a judge told him that the asylum seeker’s behavior “really shows how much respect you have for women”.

The 38-year-old, who arrived in the UK on a small boat days before the incident in July, told the two teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them” and attempted to kiss them, before placing his hand on one of the girls’ thighs and stroking her hair, his trial heard.

He was also found to have sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hands on her legs and telling her she was beautiful.

The asylum seeker was found guilty of five offenses following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester crown court in September.

The court heard at his sentencing hearing that he had a “strong desire” to be deported.

In court, Kebatu gave his date of birth through an interpreter as December 1986 which would make him 38 although Essex Police said their records stated his birth date was December 1983 which would make him 41.

It is understood the Home Office is prepared to take him to an immigration removal center ahead of his planned deportation.

Kebatu’s case saw protesters and counter-protesters take to the streets in Epping, Essex, and eventually outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.

Chris Whitbread, Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, said he was “shocked and appalled” at the “grave error” in Kebatu’s release.

He said: “There must be a full and transparent investigation into how this happened and what safeguards will be put in place to ensure this never happens again.”

Ben Mitchell, PA