Epping manhunt latest: Three police forces search for jailed hotel asylum seeker after mistaken release

A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation is under way.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “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.”

Aaron Stow, the president of the Criminal Justice Workers’ Union (CJWU), said Kebatu’s mistaken release is “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.”

Sir Keir Starmer said the accidental release was “totally unacceptable”.

The Prime Minister said: “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.”

Kebatu was found guilty of five offences following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates’ courts in September.

He told two teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them” and attempted to kiss them, before going on to put 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.

Kebatu was jailed for 12 months and made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order, with a judge warning he posed a “significant risk of reoffending”.

He was also added to the UK sex offenders’ register for 10 years, which means he is supposed to be subject to strict monitoring.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Justice Secretary David Lammy should take responsibility for the blunder which led Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu be accidentally released from prison, Epping Forest’s Tory MP said.

Ethiopian asylum seeker Kebatu, 38, was jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, a crime which triggered protests at the Bell Hotel in Epping where he had been staying.

Epping Forest MP Neil Hudson told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “This sounds like an operational error, but the buck has to stop somewhere, and it has to stop at the top, at the Justice Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister.

“They have said that they are livid and appalled. Well, quite right, they should be livid and appalled. But that’s that’s not good enough, and the Labour Government needs to get a grip of this issue.

“They need to apprehend this man, but they’ve got to sort this issue out, and that’s what my constituents, who are deeply distressed and upset are saying.”

Kebatu was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre to be deported, but was freed by mistake. He was wrongly categorised as a prisoner due to be released on licence and handed a £76 discharge grant, The Telegraph reported.

An officer at the prison has been removed from duty while officials investigate the error, The Independent understands.

Videos circulated online appeared to show a man resembling Kebatu in Chelmsford town centre shortly after his release, wearing a grey tracksuit and carrying a plastic bag.

Essex Police said he boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford railway station at 12.41pm following the error.

The Greater Anglia train stopped at Shenfield and Stratford before arriving at London Liverpool Street at 13.18pm, according to Trainline data.

Essex Police, British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police are all searching for Hadush Kebatu, who was accidentally released from prison.

Essex Police said they were informed by the prison service at 12.57pm of the error and have launched an investigation.

The force said enquiries have shown that Kebatu “boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford railway station at 12.41pm”.