Immigration lawyer warns Epping hotel migrant could appeal possible deportation after 12-month jail sentence

The asylum seeker from Ethiopia had arrived in the UK on a small boat and was staying at The Bell Hotel in Epping for a matter of days before committing two counts of sexual assault.

Mr Kebatu was sentenced to 12 months by Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of five charges, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

Asked by GB News host Nana Akua whether Mr Kebatu could be removed from Britain, Mr Sampson explained: "The fact is that if somebody commits a crime in this country, they should be punished in this country. And we have to be seen justice to be done as a deterrent for others. So that's important.

"But it's almost certain that he'll be taken from his prison where he's serving his 12-month sentence to an immigration removal centre and detained under the immigration acts under the Secretary of State's immigration powers."

He added: "So, yes, he will, and they will serve him with a notice of intention to deport. He'll have a right of challenge to that and also have an in-country right of appeal more than likely.

"But I'd be very surprised if he's going to be successful in that appeal, knowing the circumstances of the case."

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Quizzed on Britain's relationship with Ethiopia and the possibility of deportation, Mr Sampson admitted that given the nature of Mr Kebatu's crimes, the country may not accept his return.

The immigration lawyer explained: "We're going to go by what other countries have done, and you remember, Zimbabwe is a good example who refused to take any prisoners released for sexual offences.

"Why would Ethiopia want a person who's got these convictions of sexual assaults against an adult and child? I'd be surprised. But there's always backroom deals done at Foreign Office levels, and I'm sure that we've got greater pull and against the Ethiopian government, so I'm sure there's a way."

Responding to Mr Sampson, host Nana Akua fumed: "That seems ridiculous though. He's come here to seek asylum from a place that he's supposedly fleeing persecution from, and then he has committed an offence in this country. He should be able to be sent back. I don't understand why now the country has come from these supposedly fled from us saying we don't want him either?"

Mr Sampson told Nana: "We don't have a returns agreement with Ethiopia, and that's what we need with many countries, we need these returns agreements. We can rely on treaties, international treaties that we can rely on in force."

Citing the ongoing debate on Britain leaving the ECHR, the Immigration Lawyer explained that the convention would also cause issue in Mr Kebatu's case.

He told GB news: "Suppose he's granted asylum, I'm afraid there's going to be a problem in sending him back to Ethiopia while we're in the European Convention on Human Rights, because Article 3 and Article 2 will prevent that.

"It'll be a breach of Article 33, you can't send someone where they will face persecution. And we may not like it, you may not like it, I don't like it, but I'm afraid we have to have humane policies. You can't send someone where they're going to face death, regardless of the offences they commit here.

"I'm equally as frustrated as you, as your listeners, but that is the law. And if you don't like it, vote for someone that will take us out. I don't agree with it, I think we need to be in the convention, but there needs to be tinkering in regard to Article 8 and those sorts of issues."