LONDON, ENGLAND (October 29, 2025) – Hadush Kebatu, a convicted sex offender, has been deported to Ethiopia after a catastrophic blunder that saw him mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in Essex on October 27, 2025. His wrongful release sparked a two-day police manhunt, which ended with his arrest in Finsbury Park, London, on October 29.
What Happened
Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian national, was serving a sentence in the UK for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and a woman. However, he was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being transferred to an immigration detention center. The error led to a manhunt that culminated in his arrest on Sunday, October 29, and his subsequent deportation to Ethiopia.
As part of his deportation process, Kebatu was given a £500 discretionary payment by officials to prevent him from disrupting the deportation process. Officials feared that delaying the process could lead to a slower and more expensive operation. The Home Office confirmed that Kebatu has no right to return to the UK.
Who Was Hadush Kebatu?
Kebatu, who had been residing at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, was identified as a dangerous individual after he was convicted for sexually assaulting two victims in 2021. His release from HMP Chelmsford raised alarms due to the grave nature of his crimes and the mistaken procedures that allowed his release. After his arrest, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed outrage at the blunder, emphasizing the importance of protecting public safety and ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again.
The Investigation and Public Reactions
The incident has prompted widespread concern and calls for accountability. An independent inquiry has been launched to investigate the circumstances that led to Kebatu’s wrongful release. The investigation will be headed by Dame Lynne Owens, former Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner, who will assess the failure and provide recommendations for improving prison procedures. The inquiry will also include discussions with the victims of Kebatu’s crimes to understand how the error impacted them.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has described the incident as “unacceptable,” adding that a comprehensive investigation is crucial to prevent further mistakes of this nature. He also revealed that there has been an alarming increase in wrongful releases across the country, with 262 prisoners released by mistake in the past year — a 128% increase from the previous year.
Public and Political Reactions
The incident has sparked intense debate about the security and management of the prison system. Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, expressed her concern, stating that it was “utterly unacceptable” for public safety to be put at risk due to such a grave error. She also emphasized the need for a full explanation as to how such a significant mistake was allowed to happen.
Mark Fairhurst, the chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association, added that this was part of a wider trend of mistaken releases from multiple prisons, citing incidents from HMP Pentonville, HMP Durham, and The Mount Prison. Despite these recent errors, no prison officers have been suspended in relation to the other cases, which has raised further questions about the handling of prison management.
What Happens Next
The Home Office has taken immediate action to address the failures in Kebatu’s release, but the Ministry of Justice disputes some figures provided by the Prison Officers’ Association, particularly regarding the number of prisoners mistakenly freed in recent days. While Kebatu has now been deported, questions about how these errors can be prevented in the future remain unanswered.
Closing Line
This story may be updated as more information becomes available. The case of Hadush Kebatu has brought to light critical concerns regarding prison management and the safety of the public. As the investigation unfolds, authorities will be under pressure to ensure that such mistakes are never repeated.
