Ethiopian Asylum Seeker Sentenced 12 Months for Epping Sexual Assaults

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian asylum seeker residing at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for multiple sexual offences including assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman. His actions, which included inappropriate sexual advances and harassment, provoked significant local and nationwide protests, highlighting tensions surrounding migrant accommodations. Judge Christopher Williams described Kebatu as manipulative with a high risk of reoffending, ordering him to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years and imposing a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Kebatu's defense cited his traumatic journey to the UK and mental health struggles, including a suicide attempt in custody, and noted his desire for immediate deportation. The Home Office plans to deport Kebatu, emphasizing its policy of removing foreign nationals who commit serious crimes. Victim impact statements revealed lasting emotional trauma, with the teenage victim expressing ongoing fear and the adult victim demanding accountability for Kebatu's actions.