A high-profile manhunt is ongoing for Hadush Kebatu, a convicted sex offender and asylum seeker who was erroneously released from HMP Chelmsford, with police confirming he is now at large in London. The incident has provoked strong political reactions and raised serious questions about the UK’s prison and immigration systems.
On Friday, October 24, 2025, Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford, where he was being held prior to deportation. Essex Police were alerted to the error within minutes and launched an urgent search operation, with footage emerging showing Kebatu boarding a train to London. Justice Secretary David Lammy confirmed that the 41-year-old is now “at large” in the capital, and multiple police forces, including the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police, are involved in the manhunt.
The Prison Service admitted that Kebatu’s release was due to human error, as he was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention centre for deportation. An investigation is underway, and the officer responsible has been removed from duties. Kebatu was seen at Chelmsford railway station at 12:41 PM, and police were informed at 12:57 PM, highlighting the rapid response but also the critical mistake.
Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, arrived in the UK on a small boat and was housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. His arrest in July for sexual offences sparked protests outside the hotel, with far-right groups exploiting the situation, leading to clashes and arrests. In September, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman, with the judge noting he posed a “significant risk of reoffending.”
During the trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, it was revealed that Kebatu attempted to kiss the teenage girl on a bench and made numerous sexually explicit comments. The following day, he sexually assaulted her and also assaulted a woman who had offered to help him with a CV. He was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, one of attempted sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and harassment. He received a five-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the release as “totally unacceptable” and emphasized that Kebatu must be caught and deported. Justice Secretary Lammy expressed outrage but noted that the Labour government inherited a “collapsing prison system” from the previous administration. Opposition leaders, including Conservatives and Reform UK, criticized the government’s competence, with Nigel Farage stating, “Britain is broken.”
Experts and MPs pointed to broader problems in the prison system. John Podmore, a former prison governor, said the process is “fairly complicated” and should involve multiple checks, attributing the error to a “broken system.” Marie Goldman, Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, called for a public inquiry, stating that if such mistakes can happen at HMP Chelmsford, they could occur elsewhere. Prison Service data shows a rise in erroneous releases, with 262 cases in the past year, up from 115.
The incident has heightened public concern about safety and immigration policies. Kebatu was eligible for immediate deportation under UK law due to his sentence, but the error has delayed this. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, while the government faces pressure to reform the prison and deportation processes to prevent future occurrences.