An Ethiopian man whose arrest sparked far-right protests outside an asylum hotel in Epping has told a court he did not sexually assault two teenage girls and a woman. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 35, denies three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
Giving evidence at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Kebatu said through an interpreter: “I’m not a wild animal. I can’t do these kind of things.” He added: “This is anti-Christian – these are just children, innocent children.” The defendant, who said he was a sports teacher in Ethiopia, claimed he only said “hello” to one of the 14-year-old girls and her friends in Epping town centre because he was “worried” about his asylum case.
The adult accuser, who cannot be named, told the court via video link that she was “shocked” and “angry” after Kebatu touched her thigh and she saw him touch one of the girls on 8 July. She said she had offered to help him with his CV. Under cross-examination by Kebatu’s barrister, Molly Dyas, she denied making up the allegations because Kebatu was an asylum seeker, saying: “I’ve no issue with asylum seekers … I was angry that he had touched a 14-year-old girl.”
Kebatu claimed the woman was drunk and had threatened to call the police if he did not go to her house. When asked why CCTV showed him on his knees apologising to her, he said: “At that time she was drunk, she was very agitated and I just wanted to calm her.” He added he was worried about the “ramifications on the other immigrants” at the Bell hotel, where he was housed.
Prosecutor Stuart Cowen accused Kebatu of being a “sexual predator” who tried to assault the girl and woman “in exactly the same way”. Kebatu replied: “I am not such a person. I can’t do these kind of things.” The court heard Kebatu paid about €1,800 (£1,550) to cross the English Channel in a small boat after travelling through Sudan, Libya, Italy and France. His arrest last month prompted weeks of violent demonstrations outside the Bell hotel, leading Epping Forest Council to obtain a court injunction stopping its use for asylum seekers. The trial was adjourned until 4 September.
