British authorities are urgently searching for an Ethiopian asylum-seeker who was mistakenly released from prison after being convicted of sexual assault — a case that has reignited tensions over migration policies and public safety in the United Kingdom.
The man, identified as 38-year-old Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, was sentenced in September to 12 months in prison for multiple offenses, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Epping, Essex. The attack occurred just over a week after Kebatu arrived in the UK by boat from France, according to police reports.
Kebatu was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention center after his sentence but was wrongly released from a prison in Chelmsford, Essex, on Friday. Authorities believe he was mistakenly classified as a prisoner eligible for release rather than one requiring immigration custody. After leaving the facility, he was seen boarding a train, prompting an immediate nationwide alert.
Essex Police confirmed that officers from multiple forces are reviewing hours of CCTV footage to trace his movements. “We understand how concerning this situation is to the public,” police said in a statement. “Our teams are working around the clock to locate and arrest him as soon as possible.”
The Prison Service has launched an internal investigation to determine how such a critical error occurred. A prison officer has been suspended from duty while the inquiry is underway. The incident has sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the handling of asylum-seekers within the UK’s legal and immigration systems.
Kebatu’s case had already become a flashpoint in Britain’s ongoing immigration debate. Following his arrest in July, protests erupted outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he and other newly arrived migrants were being housed. Demonstrators expressed anger over what they described as government mismanagement of migrant accommodations.
The protests soon spread to other towns and cities, with some gatherings turning disorderly and attracting far-right groups. Counter-protests were also held by organizations like Stand Up to Racism, who condemned the xenophobic rhetoric emerging from the unrest and called for compassion toward asylum-seekers.
The case comes at a sensitive time for the UK government, which continues to face criticism over its handling of irregular migration across the English Channel. Thousands of people arrive each year in small boats seeking asylum, putting pressure on border enforcement and housing systems.
Many migrants are placed temporarily in hotels while their asylum claims are processed — a policy that has fueled frustration among local communities and drawn political backlash. The recent change in government has done little to ease these tensions, as critics demand stricter border controls while humanitarian groups call for safer migration pathways.
For now, police remain focused on finding Kebatu, who was last seen in the London area. Officials have urged the public not to approach him if spotted but to contact authorities immediately.
The mistaken release has prompted renewed scrutiny of both the prison system’s oversight mechanisms and the broader challenges the UK faces in managing asylum-seekers fairly and securely.
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