Recovered/Located UK - Chelmsford - Manhunt for convicted sex offender Hadush Kebatu released from HMP Chelmsford in error (24 Oct 2025) *Re-arrested 26 October*

[Parker Knoll]

Disgraceful.

 

[Kittypoo]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

I wonder if there will be more protests/riots in response to this

 

[Skigh]

I wonder if there will be more protests/riots in response to this

I think that the people of Epping are still conducting regular peaceful protests.

The amount of anger in the country is growing as people are becoming increasingly upset about the government not doing anything to try and sort out the problems.
I think it is possible in not too distant future that there could be civil unrest on a huge scale.

 

[Lucy6226]

UPDATE: Hadush Kebatu has been arrested

Kebatu was arrested by Met officers in the Finsbury Park area of London at around 08:30hrs.

news.met.police.uk

UPDATE: Hadush Kebatu has been arrested​

Hadush Kebatu, who was released in error from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning, has been arrested.

Kebatu was arrested by Met officers in the Finsbury Park area of London at around 08:30hrs this morning (Sunday, 26 October).

Commander James Conway, who has overseen the operation to find Kebatu, said: “This has been a diligent and fast paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police.

“Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and following a search, they located Mr Kebatu. He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.

“I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu.”

Glad to see he has been caught and will be deported as planned. Although it doesn't seem he was running from the police as a 'free' man anyhows!

 

[elliefant]

Moment Epping sex offender asylum seeker fugitive arrested after 3 days at large
Moment sex offender asylum seeker fugitive is arrested after three days at large

Has a pic of him being detained, in different clothes.

 

[dotr]

rbbm

Oct 26, 2025 #London #BBCNews
Migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu has been arrested in the Finsbury Park area of London after a two-day manhunt. Kebatu had been mistakenly released on Friday from HMP Chelmsford, where he was serving a 12-month sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says Kebatu "will be deported" and Justice Secretary David Lammy has ordered a full investigation into Friday's release. London's Met Police Commander James Conway says "information from the public" helped officers locate Kebatu earlier this morning.

 

[Skigh]

Migrant sex offender is second person to be freed by mistake from HMP Chelmsford

Prison authorities in 2023 were duped into freeing a conman after a fake email from the Royal Courts of Justice said he should be released on bail.

news.sky.com

Rather disconcerting that no one questioned the veracity of the email .

 

[seasideForest]

Only 12 months for sexual assault of a minor? Seems a little low. MOO

Relief that he's behind bars again.

 

[tedtink]

Only 12 months for sexual assault of a minor? Seems a little low. MOO

Relief that he's behind bars again.

• two counts of sexual assault
• one count of attempted sexual assault
• one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity; and
• one count of harassment without violence

12 months in prison and was made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order, which bans him for approaching or contacting any female.

https://www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/news/news/2025/september/epping-man-jailed-over-sexual-assaults/

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1982440225830773087

"This is the moment Hadush Kebatu
(second from left)
was arrested by Met Police officers in Finsbury Park, north London.
He was seen wearing a dark puffer jacket with a black and grey hoodie, jeans and grey trainers.

Kebatu was arrested a short distance inside Finsbury Park,
close to the entrance opposite Finsbury Park Road,
after a member of the public spotted him."

 

[Telltale]

Genuinely curious on what he was arrested for.

He didn't escape prison, he wasn't avoiding deportation and

https://twitter.com/x/status/1982440225830773087

View attachment 621836

"This is the moment Hadush Kebatu
(second from left)
was arrested by Met Police officers in Finsbury Park, north London.
He was seen wearing a dark puffer jacket with a black and grey hoodie, jeans and grey trainers.

Kebatu was arrested a short distance inside Finsbury Park,
close to the entrance opposite Finsbury Park Road,
after a member of the public spotted him."

So he changed his clothes. Like a normal person after 3 days? Also, of course he did, he was sleeping rough in a London park in October.


Actually curious on what they arrested him for and under what powers.

He didn't escape, he wasn't dodging deportation. Doesn't appear he has committed any crimes while out.

Seems pretty harsh to call him an escaped fugitive at large when he was kicked out the front gate and told to gtfo when he tried going back in.

 

[Lucy6226]

Genuinely curious on what he was arrested for.

He didn't escape prison, he wasn't avoiding deportation and

So he changed his clothes. Like a normal person after 3 days? Also, of course he did, he was sleeping rough in a London park in October.


Actually curious on what they arrested him for and under what powers.

He didn't escape, he wasn't dodging deportation. Doesn't appear he has committed any crimes while out.

Seems pretty harsh to call him an escaped fugitive at large when he was kicked out the front gate and told to gtfo when he tried going back in.

Homeless charities often hand out warm clothing and sleeping bags this time of year. Obviously he could have purchased the clothes himself but I wonder if these were donated to him. Given he was wearing his tracksuit in all the other CCTV/photos we've seen of him.

I'm also curious about what they arrested him for, maybe they didn't arrest him....rather 'helped' him to get where he needed to be?

 

[Sarahlou]

They took him into custody because he has to be deported. A mistake doesn't change that. He wouldn't have known what to do otherwise.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1982880541851500820

"And the current national surge of opposition to migrant hotels started at the Bell’s door in July. Bell resident Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, was arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl just nine days after arriving in Britain on a dinghy.

That arrest sparked demonstrations calling for the Epping hotel’s closure, which fast spread to other migrant hotels across the country, amid concern at the arrival of 50,000 small boat migrants since Labour’s election last year.

Kebatu was convicted of sexual assault and - after his embarrassing accidental release last week, then recapture on Sunday - is to be deported ‘this week’, according to Justice Secretary David Lammy."

 

[PNW]

Genuinely curious on what he was arrested for.

He didn't escape prison, he wasn't avoiding deportation and

So he changed his clothes. Like a normal person after 3 days? Also, of course he did, he was sleeping rough in a London park in October.


Actually curious on what they arrested him for and under what powers.

He didn't escape, he wasn't dodging deportation. Doesn't appear he has committed any crimes while out.

Seems pretty harsh to call him an escaped fugitive at large when he was kicked out the front gate and told to gtfo when he tried going back in.

I totally agree. How is he a “fugitive”, when they released him and told him to go?

 

[tedtink]

He had hundreds of pounds of cash on him, thought to be money he had with him when he was first remanded into custody, according to this article, so I assume he bought new clothes.

AFAIK An arrest warrant can be issued if a prisoner is unlawfully at large due to a clerical error.

Access Restricted

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1983167717617054176

 

[Telltale]

Wow that headline is working hard to 'suggest' this retired guv from a different prison is whistleblowing... when really he's just sounding off based on zero evidence.

Also, it don't even make sense. This prisoner didn't take advantage of one guards mistake/a bad actor to gtfo the moment the gates were open for him. He tried informing the reception multiple times that there was a mistake and got ignored and shoo'd away. Unless they are all in on the conspiracy, there are systematic issues at play. Which we know there are, because mistaken releases have increased sharply over the last year.

 

[Dotta]

On his way!
Again

https://twitter.com/x/status/1983427045641113801

"Footage captured from Heathrow Airport
showed the moment Kebatu, 38,
was escorted on to a plane last night."

 

[Telltale]

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-10-29/migrant-sex-offender-mistakenly-released-from-prison-deported-to-ethiopia

Deported Ethiopian sex offender given £500 to leave UK after wrongful release from prison

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was released in error from HMP Chelmsford instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre.

Convicted sex offender Hadush Kebatu was given £500 to speed up his deportation from the UK, Downing Street has said.

Kebatu was offered the discretionary payment by officials in the removals team as he threatened to disrupt his flight, which could have led to a slower and more expensive process

Christ what a farce