Epping migrant sex attacker finally ARRESTED after 45-hour police manhunt following prison release

Commander James Conway, who has overseen the operation to find Kebatu, said: "This has been a diligent and fast-paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police.

"Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park, and following a search, they located Mr Kebatu. He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.

"I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu."

The force said Kebatu will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.

The Ethiopian national had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping and was jailed for 12 months in September for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

The 38-year-old, who arrived in the UK on a small boat days before the incidents in July, told two teenagers he wanted to "have a baby with each of them" and attempted to kiss them, before putting his hand on one of the girls' thighs and stroking her hair, his trial was told.

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He was also found to have sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

The migrant was found guilty of five offences after a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates' courts in September.

The manhunt for Kebatu lasted 45 hours after he boarded a train at Chelmsford Railway Station, catching a train to Stratford, east London.

He was spotted on Friday in Chelmsford town centre asking for assistance before boarding the train.

WATCH - Police release CCTV footage of Kebatu after he was mistakenly released from prison

Kebatu was seen strolling around London the day after his mistaken release from prison and was caught on CCTV in Dalston, Hackney - travelling almost 45 miles from Chelmsford since his mistaken release on Friday.

He appeared to be in the Dalston CLR James Library, carrying a "distinctive bag with avocados on it".

A delivery driver described seeing Kebatu return to the prison in a "very confused" state "four or five times", only to be turned away by prison staff and directed to the railway station.

It is understood he left the prison with an amount of personal money but was not given a discharge grant to cover subsistence costs.

WATCH - Epping hotel migrant Hadush Kebatu spotted speaking to locals after accidental prison release

Issuing an update, Sir Keir Starmer said: "Hadush Kebatu has been arrested and will be deported. Officers have worked quickly and diligently to bring him back into custody.

"We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesn't happen again."

Justice Secretary David Lammy echoed the Prime Minister's words, writing on X: "Kebatu has been arrested, is now in custody and will be deported.

"Thanks to the Met, Essex and British Transport Police for their swift and thorough work. I have already ordered the immediate strengthening of release checks and a full investigation into what went wrong."

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it was a relief that Kebatu had been apprehended, telling GB News that "vital intelligence that came from vigilant members of the public" led to his arrest.

Mr Streeting told GB News: "I am appalled that this man was released. He should never have been on our streets. We will get to the bottom of what went wrong and make sure there is accountability and transparency with the public."

WATCH - Wes Streeting vows Labour will 'clean up this mess' after Kebatu has been arrested

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood added: "I would like to thank the Met, Essex and British Transport Police for their tireless work around the clock to hunt down and arrest Hadush Kebatu.

"He will be deported as quickly as possible."

Chelmsford's Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman has also called for a "rapid" national inquiry into the mistake.

She said: "I am relieved that Hadush Kebatu has been found and is back in custody. He must now be deported. But this doesn't excuse the serious mistakes that let this happen in the first place. It's unacceptable that the safety of my constituents and the people of London was ever put at risk.

"The Prison Service had several chances to fix it and failed. The Government has serious questions to answer and major work to do to make the system fit for purpose. It certainly isn't at the moment.

"A rapid, national inquiry must happen to get to the bottom of this."

WATCH - Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp reacts to the arrest of Hadush Kebatu

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told GB News that it is "good [Kebatu] has been finally caught", calling for his immediate deportation.

Mr Philp told The People's Channel: "It's good that he has been finally caught, but I remain shocked that this inept Labour Government let him out in the first place. They should never have allowed his release, and I think David Lammy and Shabana Mahmood have questions to answer because they have presided over this system.

"What should happen now to this man is that he should be immediately deported. He is quite clearly a risk to women and girls.

"Just eight days after illegally crossing the Channel, he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Essex, and we don't want people in this country who are going to attack women and girls in that way, so he should be immediately deported."

Timeline of Hadush Kebatu's release from prison

Friday, October 24

• Kebatu is mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford wearing a prison-issued grey tracksuit, holding a clear plastic bag with his belongings. Footage shared with GB News showed Kebatu walking through Chelmsford High Street.
• 12.41pm - Kebatu boards a Greater Anglia London-bound train at Chelmsford station.
• 12.51pm - The train arrives at Shenfield station, in the Essex borough of Brentwood.
• 12.57pm - Essex Police are informed by the Prison Service that Kebatu has "accidentally" been released.
• 1.12pm - Kebatu gets off the train at Stratford, East London.
• 8pm - Kebatu is spotted in the Dalston area of Hackney, still wearing his prison-issue grey tracksuit, believed to be in the Dalston CLR James Library.

Saturday, October 25

• 12.37pm - The Metropolitan Police announces it is taking over the manhunt for Kebatu.
• 4.30pm - Met Police Commander James Conway makes a direct appeal to Kebatu, saying: "We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way. You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff. The best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us by either calling 999 or reporting yourself to a police station."

Sunday October 26

• 8.30am - After receiving information from the public, Scotland Yard located Kebatu in the Finsbury Park area, arresting him and taking him into custody.
• 9.20am - The Metropolitan Police informs the public that the sex offender has been caught, ending the manhunt.

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