Hadush Kebatu, a migrant sex offender mistakenly released from prison, has been arrested in London after a three-day manhunt. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and prompted an investigation into prison release procedures.
On Sunday morning, Metropolitan Police arrested Hadush Kebatu in the Finsbury Park area of London, ending an intensive search that began after he was erroneously freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday. Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, had been serving a 12-month sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex.
The mistaken release occurred when prison staff led Kebatu away from HMP Chelmsford and directed him to the train station, according to witnesses. He boarded a train to London and was last seen on CCTV in the Dalston area of Hackney on Friday evening, wearing his prison-issued grey tracksuit and carrying a distinctive white bag with avocado prints.
Police released footage showing Kebatu in a library in Dalston Square at around 6pm on Friday, and he was sighted again shortly before 8pm. Commander James Conway of the Metropolitan Police had earlier appealed directly to Kebatu to hand himself in, noting that he had access to funds and had made several train journeys across London.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from political figures. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the release “totally unacceptable,” while Justice Secretary David Lammy expressed being “livid on behalf of the public.” Lammy has ordered an independent investigation and new prison procedures, including additional checks before releases, to prevent future errors.
Kebatu’s case gained notoriety after his arrest in July sparked protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he was housed as an asylum seeker. He was convicted in September of five offences, including sexual assault, and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
Statistics from HM Prison and Probation Service reveal that 262 prisoners in England and Wales were released in error in the year to March 2025, a significant increase from the previous year. This case highlights systemic issues in the prison system, with staff shortages and overwork cited as contributing factors.
Following the arrest, authorities are now focusing on deportation proceedings, as Kebatu had expressed a desire to return to Ethiopia. The government faces pressure to ensure such mistakes do not recur, with reforms aimed at bolstering public safety and trust in the justice system.