An Ethiopian asylum seeker whose arrest sparked far-right protests outside an Epping hotel has been convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls and a woman. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 27, denied the charges, telling Colchester Magistrates' Court he was “not a wild animal” and could not commit such acts.
Kebatu was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against two 14-year-old girls and a woman in Epping town centre on 7 and 8 July. He also admitted one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence.
During the trial, the court heard that Kebatu touched the thigh of one of the girls and the woman. The adult victim testified via video link that she was “shocked and angry” after witnessing the assault. Kebatu claimed the woman was drunk and threatened to call police if he did not go to her house, but she denied this.
Kebatu, a former sports teacher in Ethiopia, said he only said “hello” to the schoolgirls because he was worried about his asylum case. He told the court he paid €1,800 to cross the Channel in a small boat and had been living at the Bell hotel for a week before his arrest.
The case attracted widespread publicity and sparked weeks of violent demonstrations outside the hotel. Epping Forest Council has since obtained a court injunction to stop the hotel housing asylum seekers. The trial was adjourned until 4 September for sentencing.
