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The Metropolitan Police have taken charge for the hunt of a convicted sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison - with officers warning there is a “high level of confidence” that the asylum seeker is now in London. Members of the public are being urged to call 999 immediately if they see Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, who was jailed for 12 months in September for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Kebatu had been living in the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, before his conviction. Justice Secretary David Lammy confirmed on Friday that Kebatu was “at large in London” after he was seen boarding a train at Chelmsford. The Met Police had initially been assisting Essex Police in the hunt but formally took over on Saturday morning after Kebatu got off the train at Stratford in east London at around 1:10pm on Friday. The station is the fifth busiest in the UK, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), and has links to the London underground, London overground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Commander James Conway said locating Kebatu was a “top priority” for the Met and confirmed the search was being led by an “experienced investigating officer.” He said: “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 are examining CCTV from that area and further afield, including on the transport network, to establish information about his subsequent movements. 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.” Kebatu was accidentally freed at HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre. He was wrongly categorised as a prisoner due to be released on licence and handed a £76 discharge grant, the Telegraph reported. Anyone who sees Kebatu, or has information his whereabouts, is now being urged to call 999 immediately. Sir 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 Mr Lammy said he was “livid on behalf of the public,” while Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Kebatu’s release was “staggering incompetence” and called for a public inquiry. A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation takes place. A Prison Service spokesman said: “Public protection is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident.” A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons after an inspection in January and February 2024 said HMP Chelmsford faced “considerable pressures” because of “national capacity issues” while suffering staff shortfalls in reception and the pre-release team. It said: “The remand and unsentenced population had risen to almost 70% and the prison was now managing more admissions, transfers and immediate releases without additional resource.” 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. Ketabu 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 ahead of a planned deportation.
