The manhunt is continuing for an asylum seeker who was accidentally released from where he was serving time for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was jailed for 12 months in September.
Justice Secretary David Lammy said on Friday night that Kebatu was âat large in Londonâ after he was seen boarding a train at Chelmsford, and the Metropolitan Police was assisting in the hunt for him.
The Sun first reported on Friday that Kebatu was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre to be deported, but was freed by mistake.
Sir Keir Starmer said the accidental release was âtotally unacceptableâ.
The Prime Minister said: âI am appalled that it has happened and itâs being investigated.
âThe police are working urgently to track him down, and my government is supporting them.
âThis man must be caught and deported for his crimes.â
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Lammy said was âlivid on behalf of the publicâ and added that he had launched an investigation into the error.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said that Kebatuâs release was âstaggering incompetenceâ and called for a public inquiry.
He told Sky News: âWe certainly need a public inquiry into how this dangerous illegal immigrant, who is also a child sex offender, got released.
âWe also need an urgent apology from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Justice Secretary David Lammy who have presided over this fiasco.â
A statement from Essex Police said that it had officers âworking to urgently locate and detain himâ after he was seen to catch a train at Chelmsford railway station.
It said: âWe were informed by the prison service at 12.57pm today (Friday 24 October) of an error this morning surrounding the release of an individual.
âAs a result of that, we have launched a search operation to locate them and are working closely with partner agencies.
âThese fast-paced enquiries have shown that the man boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford Railway Station at 12.41pm.
âWe understand the concern the public would have regarding this situation and can assure you we have officers working to urgently locate and detain him.â
The Greater Anglia train stopped at Shenfield and Stratford before arriving at London Liverpool Street at 13.18pm, according to Trainline data.
It is understood Kebatu was accidentally freed on Friday morning at HMP Chelmsford.
A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation is under way.
A Prison Service spokesman said: âWe are urgently working with police to return an offender to custody following a release in error at HMP Chelmsford.
âPublic protection is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident.â
Aaron Stow, the president of the Criminal Justice Workersâ Union (CJWU), said Kebatuâs mistaken release is âa profound failure of dutyâ.
He said: âThe 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.â
Mike Rolfe, the CJWUâs general secretary, added: âThe justice system is stretched to breaking point, the publicâs confidence is collapsing, and those tasked with enforcing the law are left to pick up the pieces of political cowardice.â
Chelmsfordâs Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman called for a rapid public inquiry into the release, telling the PA news agency the problem was âfar bigger than a member of staffâ.
She said: âHow could it possibly just be the responsibility of one single member of staff to decide whether to release or not a prisoner, or how to release a prisoner.
âSo, I think thereâs huge questions to be answered about this.â
Ms Goldman also told PA she had been âfrustratedâ by a lack of communication from HMP Chelmsfordâs governor, Mark Howard, and said she was âstrugglingâ not to call for him to resign.
Reacting to the incident, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacted to the error by saying: âBritain is broken.â
Sentencing Kebatu last month, a judge told him his behaviour âreally highlights the poor regard you must have for womenâ.
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 âhave a baby with each of themâ and attempted to kiss them, before going on to put his hand on one of the girlsâ 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 following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistratesâ courts in September.
The court heard at his sentencing hearing it was his âfirm wishâ to be deported.
It is understood the Home Office was ready to take him to an immigration removal centre before a planned deportation from the UK.
Kebatuâs case led to protesters and counter-protesters taking to the streets in Epping, Essex, and eventually outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.
