Illegal migrant convicted of sexual assault was directed to railway station by prison staff following mistaken release

A local delivery driver has revealed Kebatu "seemed confused" as a member of prison staff had to direct the offender to Chelmsford Railway Station to catch a train to London.

The driver, named Sim, told Sky News that Kebatu was stood around outside the prison for "an hour and a half" before finally leaving.

He continued: "The fourth or fifth time [he went into the reception] he was starting to get upset, he was getting stressed. I'm not sticking up for the guy, but in my eyes, he was trying to do the right thing

"He knew he was getting deported, but he didn’t know where he was going or how he should get there."

Kebatu appears to have been spotted later in Chelmsford town centre asking for assistance before getting on to a train to Stratford, east London.

Commander James Conway said finding Kebatu was a "top priority" for the Met and that the investigation was being led by an "experienced 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," he said.

Anyone who sees Kebatu, or has information his whereabouts, has been urged to call 999.

No description of the offender, or what he is thought to be wearing has been released by police.

Stratford station is the fifth busiest in the UK, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), and has links to the London Underground, Elizabeth Line, London Overground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

Sir Keir Starmer said the accidental release was "totally unacceptable", adding: "I am appalled that it has happened and it’s being investigated."

A Prison Service spokesman said: "Public protection is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident."

Chelmsford’s Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman said she had been frustrated by a lack of communication from HMP Chelmsford’s governor, Mark Howard, and said she was "struggling" not to call for him to resign.

President of the Criminal Justice Workers’ Union (CJWU) Aaron Stow said Kebatu’s mistaken release was "a profound failure of duty."

He said: "The release of Hadush Kebatu is a betrayal of the victims, the community and the principles of justice. We demand a full investigation and immediate reforms to ensure this never happens again."

Sentencing Kebatu last month, a judge told him his behaviour "really highlights the poor regard you must have for women."

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 stroke her hair, his trial was told.

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 court heard at his sentencing hearing that it was his “firm wish” to be deported.

In court, Kebatu gave his date of birth through a translator as being in December 1986 making him 38 years old although Essex Police have said their records state his date of birth is in December 1983 making him 41 years old.

It is understood the Home Office was ready to take him to an immigration removal centre before a planned deportation.