By Sheila McKenzie-
A convicted sex offender and asylum seeker, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, is now the subject of an urgent nationwide search after he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford, an incident politicians swiftly condemned as “totally unacceptable.”
Three police forces are actively pursuing the Ethiopian national, who was serving a sentence for sexually assaulting a teenage girl and a woman. Authorities confirmed on Saturday, 25 October 2025, that the focus of the intense Kebatu Manhunt Error search had shifted decisively to the London area after the 38-year-old boarded a train shortly after his accidental liberation.
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The entire incident unfolded on Friday afternoon when Kebatu, who had been jailed for 12 months in September, was released from prison. Essex Police reported that their inquiries, which included meticulously scouring hours of CCTV footage throughout the night, tracked his movements to Chelmsford Railway Station.
At 12.41 pm, he boarded a London-bound train, stopping briefly at Shenfield at 12.51 pm, arriving at Stratford at 1.12 pm, and finally reaching London Liverpool Street Station at 1.18 pm.
Multiple forces, including Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police, and the British Transport Police, are now cooperating on the ongoing operation, working with “all hands on deck” to locate him. Authorities are strongly encouraging anyone who sees the man or knows his location to call 999 immediately.
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Hadush Kebatu sparked nationwide outrage and weeks of subsequent protests after he committed the sexual assaults, having been residing at The Bell Hotel in Epping as an asylum seeker shortly after arriving in the UK via a small boat in July.
During his trial, the court heard compelling evidence detailing the incidents. Kebatu 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 14-year-old girl’s thighs and stroking her hair. The girl later described to police that she “froze” and felt “really creeped out,” having clearly told him: “No, I’m 14.” The following day, he repeated the behavior, putting his hand on a woman’s thigh and trying to kiss her when she attempted to intervene.
District Judge Christopher Williams sentenced Kebatu to 12 months in prison, ruling that the asylum seeker posed a “significant risk of reoffending.” He was found guilty of five separate offences, including two counts of sexual assault. Disturbingly, the prosecutor, Stuart Cowen, informed the court that a report described Kebatu using the word “manipulative.”
The victim’s father, visibly upset, appeared at HMP Chelmsford demanding answers, telling a correspondent he felt “let down” by every authority involved.
The father stated with profound frustration that the “justice system has let us down,” expressing concern about Kebatu escaping custody. Under the UK Borders Act 2007, Kebatu, as a foreign national who received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months, was subject to a mandatory deportation order.
He was released on the expectation that Immigration Enforcement would pick him up and take him to an Immigration Removal Centre, but a failure in this process led directly to the shocking Kebatu Manhunt Error. Consequently, a Prison Service officer has been removed from duties while a full investigation is launched into the blunder.
Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy immediately condemned the incident, telling reporters he was “appalled” and “livid on behalf of the public that Kebatu is at large.” He emphatically added that Kebatu “must be caught and deported” for his crimes, confirming that a full investigation was already underway. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also weighed in on the crisis, calling the accidental release “totally unacceptable.”
The Prime Minister posted on X that he was “appalled that it has happened” and vowed his government was supporting police in their urgent efforts to track the individual down.
The political fallout was swift and sharp, highlighting the deeply rooted issues within the correctional system. Epping Forest MP Neil Hudson insisted the “buck has to stop somewhere,” telling BBC Radio 4 that the government needed to “get a grip of this issue.”
Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, struggled with the desire to call for the prison governor’s resignation, expressing her “frustration” at being denied a phone call with the prison, which was “not updating individual stakeholders.” She told reporters she was “appalled, frustrated and angry” that the incident had put her constituents in danger.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp demanded a public inquiry into the “staggering incompetence,” demanding an apology from the Home Secretary and Justice Secretary. Moreover, annual government data covering March 2024–25 shows the Kebatu Manhunt Error is far from an isolated event.
During that period, 262 prisoners were released in error—a staggering 128% increase from the 115 released the previous year, with the vast majority (233) occurring directly from prison establishments. This alarming trend suggests a wider crisis of competence, a promise rival MPs will seize on, given this latest gaffe is undeniably on the current government’s watch.
The three police forces involved are employing fast-paced tactics to track the movements of the escaped man. Police commentator Graham Wettone called Kebatu’s release a “monumental error,” explaining to Sky News that authorities will be “looking to gather as much information as possible and try to track him very quickly.” Experts believe authorities will face limitations in the manhunt because Kebatu, an asylum seeker, has no long-established contacts, associates, or fixed addresses in the United Kingdom.
Detectives and intelligence officers are working rapidly in the background, chasing up all leads. They will be investigating what areas of the UK he knows and if he has access to cash. Wettone added that police will conduct a risk assessment with prison authorities concerning his risk to the public, focusing immediately on places he might seek shelter. Investigators will also question prison authorities regarding his phone calls and visits to check for potential associates.
If Kebatu continued his journey on the London Underground, the British Transport Police will extend their inquiries, tracking his movements through the labyrinthine public transport network. The news made front-page headlines across the country, with one newspaper describing the event as a “blunder that beggars belief.” The local MP for Chelmsford noted that such a failure “destroys trust at a time when emotions are riding high,” underscoring the high stakes of the operation to correct the profound Kebatu Manhunt Error and restore public confidence.
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