A serious error at HMP Chelmsford has led to the mistaken release of convicted illegal migrant sex offender Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, triggering a major police manhunt across London. Prison staff accidentally freed Kebatu on Friday morning and directed him towards Chelmsford Railway Station, effectively sending him out of custody.
Kebatu was jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl shortly after arriving in the UK by boat. He was due to be transferred to an immigration removal centre before deportation but was mistakenly released instead. A delivery driver at the prison, known only as Sim, told Sky News that Kebatu appeared “confused” and lingered outside the prison for around 90 minutes.
Sim said prison officers then sent Kebatu to Chelmsford Railway Station. “He kept asking officers, ‘Where am I going? What am I doing? I don’t know where I’m going and what I’m doing,'” Sim recalled. Kebatu was holding a pack of paperwork and a bag, and even pleaded with Sim for help. His repeated visits to the prison reception left him visibly upset and stressed.
Eventually, staff told Kebatu to catch a train to London. He was later spotted on Chelmsford High Street carrying a prison-issue bag before boarding the 12:41pm train to London. The train stopped at Shenfield and Stratford, with Kebatu disembarking at Stratford, one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs.
Police were not alerted until 12:57pm, 16 minutes after Kebatu had already boarded the train. The Metropolitan Police took over the investigation on Saturday morning. Commander James Conway described the search as a “top priority,” with Specialist Crime Command teams deploying all available resources. Officers have urged the public to call 999 immediately if they spot Kebatu. No details about his appearance or clothing have been released, raising concerns that he could use the London Underground network to evade capture.
The incident has caused public outrage and political fury. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the error as “totally unacceptable,” demanding Kebatu’s swift capture and deportation. Justice Secretary David Lammy expressed that he was “livid” and ordered a full inquiry into the matter.
Kebatu was mistakenly classified as a prisoner released on licence and received a £76 discharge grant. He was sentenced to 12 months in September after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences against children and women. District Judge Christopher Williams described Kebatu’s crimes as “disgusting and sickening,” highlighting the widespread public fear they caused.
Chelmsford Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman has called for a public inquiry, criticising the prison’s failings and demanding accountability. Unions have condemned the blunder as a “profound failure of duty,” insisting on urgent reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labelled the mistake “staggering incompetence,” calling for apologies from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Justice Secretary Lammy. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and several Tory MPs have also criticised the government, claiming Britain’s system is “broken” and collapsing under Labour’s management.
This incident at Chelmsford highlights a wider crisis in the UK prison system. Government data shows that prisoner releases in error more than doubled last year to a record 262 cases, undermining public confidence. A Prison Service spokesman said: “We are urgently working with police to return an offender to custody following a release in error at HMP Chelmsford. Public protection is our top priority, and we have launched an investigation into this incident.”
The case has reignited intense debate over immigration, prison management, and public safety, with growing concerns about migrants housed in hotels and the government’s difficulties in enforcing deportations promptly. As the nationwide manhunt continues, attention remains focused on London to see if police can locate Kebatu and restore calm to a concerned public.
Originally published by UKNIP.
