Prison Officer Suspended After Migrant Sex Offender's Accidental Release Sparks Manhunt

Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national and convicted sex offender, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford instead of being transferred to an immigration detention center for deportation. Following his release, prison staff allegedly directed the confused Kebatu to a nearby train station, effectively encouraging him to leave the area despite his repeated pleas for help and uncertainty about where to go. This blunder prompted outrage from Justice Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, leading to an independent probe and suspension of a prison worker. A former prison officer highlighted that such a release involves multiple points of oversight and suggested that this incident stemmed from a series of human errors across various checks. The police launched a massive manhunt after Kebatu traveled on trains across London using funds provided upon release, but he was eventually re-arrested and is set for deportation. The incident has raised serious concerns about systemic failures within the prison release process and the treatment of high-risk offenders.