An asylum seeker staying at a hotel in Essex has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, was living at the Bell Hotel in Epping after arriving in the UK by small boat. He was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and one of attempted sexual assault just days after his arrival.
District Judge Christopher Williams described Kebatu as a “significant risk of reoffending” and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years. The court also imposed a five-year sexual harm prevention order, along with prosecution costs of £650 and a £187 victim surcharge.
Victim Impact Statements
The 14-year-old victim said the assault left her constantly “checking over my shoulder” when out with friends. The woman he targeted added that Kebatu “did not even appear to know that what he’s done was wrong,” describing her feelings of anger and frustration.
Judge Williams said Kebatu’s behavior reflected “poor regard for women” and noted his manipulative attempts to blame mental health and language barriers for his actions.
Deportation Complications
Kebatu’s lawyer told Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court that his client wanted to be deported after serving his sentence. However, the UK has no formal extradition agreement with Ethiopia, making deportation difficult.
Political and Public Backlash
The case sparked protests outside the Bell Hotel over the summer, with far-right groups exploiting the unrest. Essex Police confirmed dozens of arrests and over 20 charges related to disorder during the demonstrations.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, criticized the government, saying: “Justice has now been served and the government must deport this criminal immediately. This vile crime should never have been allowed to happen.”
The current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has previously stated that the government intends to expand immediate deportation plans for foreign offenders after custodial sentences. However, Ethiopia was not included in the UK’s recent extradition expansions.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper of Essex Police praised the victims’ bravery but said the crime should never be used to justify violence or unrest: “No crime can become an excuse for what we’ve seen at times in Epping throughout the summer.”
