A convicted child sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison after arriving in the UK on a small boat was given £500 of public money to facilitate his deportation to Ethiopia. Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre, sparking a two-day manhunt.
Kebatu had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, just days after crossing the English Channel on 29 June. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison for two sexual assaults, harassment, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and attempted sexual assault.
The discretionary payment was approved by officials, not ministers, after Kebatu threatened to disrupt his removal flight. The Home Office said the alternative would have been a slower, more expensive process involving detention and potential legal challenges. Kebatu was flown back to Ethiopia on Tuesday night with five escorts and has no right to return to Britain.
Speaking to Sky News from Ethiopia, Kebatu claimed he tried to hand himself in to police but was ignored. The Metropolitan Police disputed this, stating there was no evidence to support his claims and that his actions on the morning of his arrest suggested he was trying to avoid officers.
The case has drawn criticism from opposition MPs, with the Conservatives describing the payment as an 'absolute disgrace'. Downing Street confirmed that Kebatu had applied for a 'facilitated return scheme' but was denied; however, the payment was made as an operational decision to ensure his removal.
