Father of Hadush Kebatu's teenage victim delivers powerful statement after Epping hotel ruling: 'You have failed to protect us'

Kebatu was staying at the asylum seeker hotel in Epping when he sexually assaulted the 14-year-old as well as another woman.

Having been sentenced to just 12 months in prison, Kebatu was then mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford before being deported home and paid £500 by the authorities.

Reading the father's powerful statement, Mr Yerrell said: "To give the verdict today of all days, when we are remembering our fallen soldiers, just creates another level of pain.

"I speak on behalf of any and every father who has been in a similar situation. I speak on behalf of everyone in Epping who has come out week in, week out to try and get this hotel shut down because of the incidents that have happened. All the Government wants to do is keep turning a blind eye and forget about it. Well, we won't forget about it.

"We will keep on fighting until we get some proper justice. 17 weeks for five counts of sexual assault is disgusting on any level. Then mistakenly letting a man out onto our streets and putting all of our trials lives in danger, putting my daughter in danger again. Bringing back all of the trauma from the day it happened again.

"My message to the Government and the Home Office - this is all on you, and now anything that happens to another child in this country as a result of an illegal immigrant is all on you, as you have failed to protect your own people and put in safeguarding measures to protect them.

"You can't put in the appropriate measures to stop people crossing our borders. You know nothing about these people, but you are thought to keep them in this hotel.

"How much do you think that hurts me and hurts my daughter? When you go home tonight and look at your own children, ask yourselves, how would you feel in my position?"

Reflecting on the statement, Mr Yerrell told host Nigel Farage: "He's really upset. We went into the day quite positive, and I spoke to him in the morning.

"We both felt like it was Epping Forest that was going to win the injunction. But yeah, it's gutting now, and it just adds another insult to the family that have been insulted several times."

Noting that Epping locals have walked out in an "emergency protest" following the ruling, Mr Yerrell concluded: "There's an emergency protest tonight as a result of this, and a lot of local parents are disgusted, the same as the family are.

"They just don't understand. Everyone's hoping for a lifeline, and unfortunately, that didn't come."

In a statement, a Home Office spokesman said: "We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels in this country.

"This Government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway to move asylum seekers into more suitable accommodation such as military bases, to ease pressure on communities across the country.

"We are working to do so as swiftly as possible as part of an orderly, planned and sustained programme. This judgment allows us to do that."