A convicted sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, who had been mistakenly released from prison and had fled to London, was apprehended and taken into custody.
Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian national, had been serving a 12-month jail term for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Essex. Despite being slated for deportation, he was erroneously freed from HMP Chelmsford, sparking a widespread manhunt in the south east. The offender had been residing at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, at the time of his offenses.
The arrest of the 38-year-old took place in the Finsbury Park area around 8:30 am, as confirmed by Scotland Yard. He was seen being escorted by plain-clothed officers near a bus stop in north London, attired in a black puffa jacket and jeans. Subsequently, he was led to a police van with his head covered by a hood.
Justice Secretary David Lammy assured that Kebatu would face deportation, commending the rapid and thorough efforts of the Metropolitan Police, Essex Police, and British Transport Police in his apprehension. Lammy also announced immediate enhancements to release checks and a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to the erroneous release.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed the commitment to deport Kebatu swiftly, emphasizing the importance of preventing such incidents in the future. Starmer denounced the release as unacceptable and stressed the necessity for Kebatu to face consequences for his actions.
During his sentencing, the judge highlighted Kebatu’s high risk of reoffending and imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) prohibiting him from contacting females.
Metropolitan Police took over the search for Kebatu in London after it was determined that he was likely in the area. The pursuit intensified after Kebatu was spotted alighting a train in Stratford, east London.
CCTV footage released by the Met Police showed Kebatu in a library in Dalston, Hackney, prompting increased police presence in the vicinity. The video captured him wearing a grey tracksuit and carrying a bag adorned with avocado images.
Metropolitan Police Commander James Conway commended the public’s assistance in locating Kebatu, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies that led to his arrest in Finsbury Park.
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