Martin Daubney chokes back tears as Epping asylum seeker found guilty of sexually assaulting teenage girl: 'I'm struggling to hold it together'

The 38-year-old small boat migrant arrived at The Bell Hotel in Epping just days before sexually assaulting a woman and a 14-year-old girl.

After denying all charges against him, a three-day trial at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court concluded that he was guilty of the offences.

Mr Kebatu was offered pizza by the teenage girl and a friend, where attempted to touch the girl's thigh and told them he "wanted to have a baby with each of them", inviting them back to the migrant hotel.

Following the incident, mass protests were sparked outside the Epping hotel, demanding its closure. A Court of Appeal order then overturned an injunction by Epping Forest Council, meaning the hotel is still able to house asylum seekers.

Reacting to the verdict, Martin said: "Today, magistrates have found this creature guilty. Had was found guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates Court of sexually assaulting a woman and a 14-year-old girl, a schoolgirl in Epping.

"Sorry, I get very emotional about things like this. It's just a 14-year-old girl on a bench who was having pizza."

Martin became tearful as he handed over to GB News National Reporter Charlie Peters, who shared more details of the court proceedings.

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Charlie told Martin: "As I was leaving court just now, the District judge Christopher Williams warned him to expect an 'immediate custodial sentence', adding it is just a 'question now of how long'.

"There was no reaction from Kebatu in the dock as the judge was handing down that verdict, lasting nearly an hour for the district judge to come to his conclusion.

"Kebatu sat in the dock with one hand on his face, wearing a prison-issued grey tracksuit, and remained motionless as he heard the deliberations from the prosecution and the defence counsel through an interpreter, but he's been found guilty of all charges against him.

"The sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, the sexual assault of a woman and attempted sexual assault of a girl, inciting that girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment of the girl without violence."

Reflecting on the verdict, Martin declared it is "sobering" that "justice has been served" for the Epping community and Kebatu's victims.

Martin told Charlie: "It's comforting and sobering that justice has been served. I feel really upset about this case because this is a 14-year-old girl... I'm trying my best to keep it together here.

"The Guardian is still reporting on this as precipitating far-right protests. It's not far-right if you object to a schoolgirl being sexually approached by an Ethiopian illegal immigrant."

He concluded: "What an incredibly grim ordeal, not only to have to go through in person, but to be put through in court like that.

"And I suspect this would be the beginning of a huge national conversation, not only just about this case, but this was this was what precipitated those protests in Epping and indeed nationwide.

"And surely a lot of people will be asking big questions about who walks amongst us and how safe are all of our children."