The Metropolitan Police have now taken over the manhunt for Hadush Kebatu and revealed that the Epping migrant was last seen at Stratford Train Station after getting off a London-bound train.
Commander James Conway said: "Finding Hadush Kebatu is a top priority.
"The manhunt is being led by an experienced Senior Investigating Officer. He has teams from the Specialist Crime Command with expertise in tracking down wanted people at his disposal, as well as other resources from across the Met.
"We've confirmed that Kebatu got off the London-bound train at Stratford station."
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Scotland Yard said its officers have been supporting the Essex Police-led operation to locate Kebatu since it was confirmed that he boarded a London-bound train from Chelmsford Station at 12.41pm on Friday.
The force said extensive enquiries have been carried out in the hours since, and the Met is highly confident that Kebatu is still in the London area.
As a result, the manhunt has been transferred over from Essex Police.
Commander Conway continued: "We are examining CCTV from that area and further afield, including on the transport network, to establish information about his subsequent movements.
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Hadush Kebatu is believed to be in the London area
| PA"We will provide further updates when we can, but I hope the press and the public will understand why it would be unhelpful to the effectiveness of the manhunt if we were to provide a detailed running commentary.
"Anyone who sees Kebatu, or has information about his whereabouts, should call 999 immediately."
Kebatu had been jailed for 12 months in September for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
He told two teenagers he wanted to "have a baby with each of them" and attempted to kiss them, before putting his hand on one girl's thigh and stroking her hair during incidents in Epping town centre.
The 38-year-old, who was a "teacher of sports" in his home country, 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.
He carried out the attacks just eight days after arriving in the UK on a small boat.
Kebatu had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, with the Ethiopian national spotted in Chelmsford as he walked to the nearby station and boarded a train.
He was freed by mistake at HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning, being wrongly categorised as a prisoner due to be released on licence and handed a £76 discharge grant.
Kebatu was previously found guilty of five charges
| ESSEX POLICESir Keir Starmer said the accidental release was "totally unacceptable", adding: "I am appalled that it has happened and it's being investigated.
"The police are working urgently to track him down, and my Government is supporting them. This man must be caught and deported for his crimes."
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he was "livid on behalf of the public" and added that he had launched an investigation.
He continued: "We are urgently working with the police to track him down, and I've ordered an urgent investigation. Kebatu must be deported for his crimes, not on our streets."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also said: "Britain is broken," following the mistake.
However, a Prison Service spokesman confirmed to GB News: "We are urgently working with police to return an offender to custody following a release in error at HMP Chelmsford.
"Public protection is our top priority, and we have launched an investigation into this incident."
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