A migrant whose sexual assault of a child earlier this year ignited nationwide riots in the UK has been mistakenly released from prison, triggering a police manhunt and renewed public fury.
Hadush Kebatu, 41, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman, but was reportedly set free in error from HMP Chelmsford. A video posted online on Friday appeared to show him walking freely through a crowded street, sparking outrage across the country.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the mistaken release “totally unacceptable” and confirmed police are urgently searching for Kebatu.
We believe this to be Hadush Ketabu, who is currently on the run.
Ketabu is a convicted sex offender and former resident of an Epping migrant hotel.
He has accidentally been released from prison – he was supposed to be sent to an Immigration Detention Centre.This video was… pic.twitter.com/ibXOklofbL
— Sydney Jones 🇬🇧 (POB) 🟣 (@JournoJones05) October 24, 2025
The prison officer involved has been removed from duties related to prisoner releases. Protests have reignited outside the migrant hotel in Epping, where Kebatu committed his crimes, as anti-immigration sentiment intensifies amid a surge of small-boat arrivals.
The incident follows similar unrest in Ireland, where violent protests erupted after an asylum seeker was accused of raping a ten-year-old girl.
The good news is
This unscheduled release will free up prison space
For some poor Old Granny who has been crucified for posting on social media
“mistakenly”. Uh huh.
““mistakenly””
“Wrongly freed’, the excuse the Bolshevik state comes up with when “caught out” by a video posted online which then forces Starmer to have to say… bugger.
Have to make room for all those pesky free speakers. Its a small price to pay, right?
Sh*t-head starmer uttered the words “totally unacceptable”
Have we all now transported into another dimension?
Or is starmer full of his own arse-covering excrement?
Which is the most likely scenario here?
“mistakingly” LoL
LOL, Hadush Kebatu tried to return to the prison 5 times but was turned away?
https://x.com/Basil_TGMD/status/1982167084860592241
The family of the victem was not notified of his escape?
https://x.com/EssexPR/status/1982141615570325705
Breaking NEWS !!!!!
Hadush Kebatu, who was wrongly released from prison yesterday has been tracked down to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London where he’s now working as a vascular surgeon after his morning shift at Imperial College where he also works – as a nuclear physicist.