Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who was mistakenly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday, has been found and arrested after a three-day manhunt.
The Metropolitan Police said Kebatu was detained in the Finsbury Park area of north London at around 8.30am this morning.
Kebatu was jailed for 12 months in September for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, and had been serving his sentence at Chelmsford.
But a prison blunder saw him released on Friday morning instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre, prompting the urgent search across the capital.
He boarded a train to London shortly after his release and was later seen on CCTV in Dalston, east London, shortly before 8pm.
A Prison Service officer has since been suspended, while Justice Secretary David Lammy said he was “livid” about the error. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the situation “totally unacceptable”.
Scroll down for the latest updates.
Key points
- Met: Finding wrongly-released sex offender a ‘top priority’ after London sighting
- Kebatu has 'access to funds and has made several train journeys' police say
- Timeline of events that led to asylum seeker's accidental release
- Keir Starmer brands accidental release of asylum seeker 'totally unacceptable'
- Met Police commander urges Kebatu to 'turn yourself in'
Footage shows the moment Hadush Kebatu was taken into a police van after his arrest in Finsbury Park
12:18 , Sami QuadriStarmer: Kebatu now back in custody and will be deported
11:15 , Sami QuadriPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Hadush Kebatu has been arrested and will be deported.
“Officers have worked quickly and diligently to bring him back into custody.
“We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Justice Secretary David Lammy says Hadush Kebatu will be deported
10:33 , Sami QuadriKebatu has been arrested, is now in custody and will be deported.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 26, 2025
Thanks to the Met, Essex and British Transport Police for their swift and thorough work.
I have already ordered the immediate strengthening of release checks and a full investigation into what went wrong.
MP demands rapid national inquiry after blunder that freed sex offender
10:04 , Sami QuadriChelmsford’s Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman called for a “rapid” national inquiry into the blunder.
She said: “I am relieved that Hadush Kebatu has been found and is back in custody. He must now be deported.
“But this doesn’t excuse the serious mistakes that let this happen in the first place. It’s unacceptable that the safety of my constituents, and the people of London, was ever put at risk.
“The Prison Service had several chances to fix it and failed.
“The Government has serious questions to answer and major work to do to make the system fit for purpose. It certainly isn’t at the moment.
“A rapid, national inquiry must happen to get to the bottom of this.”
Wes Streeting praises public vigilance after arrest of freed sex attacker
09:56 , Sami QuadriCabinet minister Wes Streeting said it was a relief that Hadush Kebatu had been apprehended.
He told GB News that “vital intelligence that came from vigilant members of the public” led to his arrest.
The Health Secretary said: “I am appalled that this man was released, he should never have been on our streets, we will get to the bottom of what went wrong and we will make sure there is accountability and transparency with the public.”
Hadush Kebatu arrested in Finsbury Park
09:38 , Georgia BellMigrant sex offender Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was arrested in London on Sunday morning after he was mistakenly released from prison on Friday.
Kebatu was arrested in the Finsbury Park area of north London at around 8.30am, Scotland Yard said.
Metropolitan Police Commander James Conway, who oversaw the operation to find Kebatu, said: “This has been a diligent and fast-paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police.
“Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and, following a search, they located Mr Kebatu. He was detained by police but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.
“I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu.”
Met Police issues CCTV footage of Hadush Kebatu
09:29 , Georgia BellThe Met Police has issued CCTV footage of Kebatu who was last seen in Dalston, East London.
The video shows Kebatu wearing his prison issue grey tracksuit and distinctive avocado-print tote bag.
The Met continues their appeal for anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forwards.
UPDATE: Officers have released CCTV of Hadush Kebatu in Dalston at around 6pm last night.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 25, 2025
He is now carrying his belongings in a distinctive bag with avocados on.
We believe he could still be in the area. Residents are urged to report any sightings to 999 immediately. pic.twitter.com/Xtebd65nzD
Met urge on-the-run sex offender to give himself up as London search continues
08:29 , Sami QuadriOn-the-run migrant sex offender Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu has access to funds and has made several train journeys across London, police said.
Commander James Conway, who is leading the manhunt, urged Kebati to give himself up.
He said: “I am making a direct appeal to Mr Kabatu. We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way.
“You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff.
“The best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us by either calling 999 or reporting yourself to a police station.”
Epping sex attacker was last seen in Hackney
08:28 , Sami QuadriMissing asylum seeker sex attacker Hadush Kebatu was last seen shortly before 8pm on Friday in the Dalston area of Hackney, east London, police said.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “He was still wearing his prison-issue grey tracksuit top and bottoms, but is now carrying his belongings in a distinctive white bag with pictures of avocados on it.”
One prison officer suspended, according to reports
Saturday 25 October 2025 19:59 , Megan HoweOne prison officer from HMP Chemlsford has been suspended following the error, according to reports.
However, several people are involved when an offender is released from custody. Therefore, the error cannot have been down to one person alone.
A senior prison staffer told the BBC: "This is down to a series of mistakes probably because staff are overworked and in short supply. It’s not just one prison officer who’s to blame. That would be unfair”.
Kebatu's funds include cash given back to him upon release
Saturday 25 October 2025 19:23 , Megan HoweEarlier today, police said Kebatu had access to funds.
According to the BBC, the funds refer to the personal cash given back to him upon his release from prison.
It is unclear how much Kebatu has on his person, but it is apparently enough to keep him going for a while.
Kebatu tried to return to police reception 'four or five times', eye witness says
Saturday 25 October 2025 18:41 , Megan HoweKebatu was seen by a delivery driver “returning four or five times” to a police reception after he was released by mistake.
He hung around outside for around “an hour and a half”, the delivery driver said.
The driver, Sim, said Kebatu knew he was supposed to be deported and kept asking prison staff “what to do”, returning to the prison reception “four or five times”.
“He came out of the airlock, and kept saying to the officers there, ‘Where am I going? What am I doing? I don’t know where I’m going and what I’m doing,’” Sim told Sky News.
Not clear if Kebatu knows about the search for him
Saturday 25 October 2025 18:30 , Megan HoweMet Police has urged Kebatu to turn himself in, but it is unclear if the convicted sex offender knows about the search for him.
In a video released by the BBC earlier today, Kebatu can be seen speaking to members of the public. It looks as though he is asking for directions.
Police are now looking through hours of CCTV footage and relying on witness accounts to track him down.
Kebatu expressed 'firm wish' to be deported during sentencing
Saturday 25 October 2025 17:39 , Megan HoweIn his press conference earlier, Commander James Conway reiterated it was Kebatu’s wish to return to Ethiopia.
During his sentencing hearing, Kebatu’s defence barrister Molly Dyas said his “firm wish is to be deported as soon as possible", as he had been suffering with his mental health.
Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a 'deportation order' must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and has received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months.
Watch: Met Police Commander James Conway gives an update on the ongoing manhunt for Hadush Kebatu
Saturday 25 October 2025 17:26 , Megan HoweCommander James Conway has given an update on the ongoing manhunt for Hadush Kebatu who was released in error from HMP Chelmsford yesterday morning.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 25, 2025
If you see him, please call 999. If you have any other information about his whereabouts, please call 101. pic.twitter.com/BHTrOMSvP5
What do we know about Kebatu's movements?
Saturday 25 October 2025 17:00 , Megan HoweHere’s what we have learnt so far about Kebatu’s whereabouts from Met Police’s latest update.
New footage of Kebatu will be released later today.
• Kebatu boarded a train from Chelmsford Station at 12:42 BST on Friday, arriving at Stratford Station in London at 13:12 BST
• He was last seen wearing a grey prison-issued tracksuit and carrying a clear plastic bag containing his personal belongings
• Kebatu has made several train journeys across London since his accidental release
• Police believe he may have received help from members of the public and have urged witnesses to come forward
• He is believed to have access to funds
• He has approached members of the public and station staff in both Chelmsford and London seeking assistance
Met police commander urges Kebatu to 'turn yourself in'
Saturday 25 October 2025 16:46 , Megan HowePolice believe Kebatu has sought assistance from members of the public both in Chelmsford and London and has urged anyone who might know where he is to make contact.
New footage of Kebatu in London will be released later today, says Conway. He asks anyone who has seen the person in the footage to call 101.
He next makes a direct appeal to Kebatu: "We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way," he says.
Conway adds that Kebatu had indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia.
"The best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us by either calling 999 or reporting yourself to a police station," Conway said.
Kebatu has 'access to funds and has made several train journeys' police say
Saturday 25 October 2025 16:44 , Megan HoweOn-the-run migrant sex offender Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu has access to funds and has made several train journeys across London, police said.
Commander James Conway, who is leading the manhunt, urged Kebati to give himself up.
He said: "I am making a direct appeal to Mr Kabatu. We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way.
"You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff.
"The best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us by either calling 999 or reporting yourself to a police station."
Keir Starmer brands accidental release of asylum seeker 'totally unacceptable'
Saturday 25 October 2025 16:09 , Megan HoweSir Keir Starmer has branded the accidental release of Kebatu as ‘totally unacceptable’ as he calls for him to be deported.
The Prime Minister wrote on X: “The mistaken release at HMP Chelmsford is totally unacceptable. I am appalled that it has happened and it’s being investigated.
“The police are working urgently to track him down, and my government is supporting them. This man must be caught and deported for his crimes.”
The mistaken release at HMP Chelmsford is totally unacceptable. I am appalled that it has happened and it’s being investigated.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 24, 2025
The police are working urgently to track him down, and my government is supporting them.
This man must be caught and deported for his crimes.
More than 260 prisoners released in error in the last year
Saturday 25 October 2025 15:51 , Megan HoweAccording to the latest figures, 262 prisoners in England and Wales were mistakenly released in the year leading up to March 2025, a 128% increase compared to the 115 prisoners released in error in the year ending March 2024.
Of the 262 released by mistake, 233 were from prisons and 29 were released in error by courts.
The prison service says in the report that "releases in error remain infrequent", but adds that the rise is linked to "a range of operational and legislative changes".
What do we know about HMP Chelmsford?
Saturday 25 October 2025 15:41 , Megan HoweHMP Chelmsford is a category B men's prison in Chelmsford, Essex, in the east of England, which houses male inmates over 18 and young offenders.
Prisons in England and Wales are categorised from A to D depending on the level of security needed, with category A prisons being the highest levels of security.
Category B prisons do not have maximum security but they are still incredibly secure due to concerns that inmates will attempt to escape.
Around 750 prisoners are held at the prison in a mixture of single and double cells.
HMP Chelmsford has been plagued by staff shortages in the last year. A report covering January to February 2024, highlighted some of the issues at the prison.
It mentions "considerable pressures... because of national capacity issues" and notes staff shortages in both reception and the pre-release team.
According to the Independent Monitoring Board bullying, violence and self-harm have increased markedly at the prison due to staff shortages which has been reduced by 25%.
The prison is reportedly becoming more dangerous and less effective, while prison healthcare provided by Care UK is considered poor, there were delays in getting medication and reliance on agency staff to fill vacancies.
Timeline of events that led to asylum seeker's accidental release
Saturday 25 October 2025 15:34 , Megan HoweA manhunt is underway for Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu after he was accidentally released from HMP Chelmsford.
Here is a timeline of key events since his arrival in the UK:
June 29: Kebatu, 38, arrives in the UK on a small boat having travelled through Sudan, Libya, Italy and France, paying 2,500 euros (£2,155) to cross the Channel in a "rubber dinghy"
July 7: Kebatu makes sexually explicit comments to a 14-year-old girl who offered him some pizza in Epping before trying to kiss her
July 8: Kebatu sexually assaults a woman and also tries to kiss her. He then encounters the girl from the previous day and again tries to kiss her before sexually assaulting her The woman sees Kebatu with the girl and calls 999. He is arrested and charged overnight
July 10: Kebatu appears at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court for the first time where he denies charges of sexual assault
July 13: The first of multiple anti-immigration demonstrations are held outside the Bell Hotel in Epping where Kebatu is housed with other asylum seekers
August 19: Epping Forest District Council is granted a temporary High Court injunction blocking the accommodation of asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel
August 26: The trial of Kebatu commences at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court
August 27: Kebatu tells his trial that he was a sports teacher in his home country, and denies the offences, saying: "I'm not a wild animal”
August 29: The temporary injunction on the Bell Hotel, operated by Somani Hotels, is overturned at the Court of Appeal, which rules "that the closure of one site means capacity needs to be identified elsewhere in the system"
September 4: Kebatu is found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence
September 23: Kebatu is sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years, as well as being made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He is also told that he faces deportation
October 24: Kebatu is accidentally released from HMP Chelmsford instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre to be deported.
He was seen by a delivery driver to return "four or five times" to the prison over an hour and a half in a "very confused" state before he was directed to Chelmsford railway station
He is also seen asking for assistance in the town before catching a London-bound train.
October 25: Essex Police says officers are working with the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police as Kebatu is believed to be in the London area
Lucy Powell: ‘Big mistake’ to wrongly free convicted sex attacker
Saturday 25 October 2025 15:09 , Sami QuadriLabour’s new deputy leader Lucy Powell said the blunder which saw Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu released was a “big mistake”.
She told broadcasters: “This is an operational matter and I’m sure the Ministry of Justice will be making their comments on that soon.
“But obviously it’s a big mistake and we need to find him quickly and make sure that he’s deported, and that’s what we’ll be determined to do.”
Met: Finding wrongly-released sex offender a ‘top priority’ after London sighting
Saturday 25 October 2025 15:09 , Sami QuadriCommander James Conway, of the Metropolitan Police, said finding Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu is a “top priority” for the force.
“The manhunt is being led by an experienced senior investigating officer. He has teams from the Specialist Crime Command with expertise in tracking down wanted people at his disposal, as well as other resources from across the Met.
“We’ve confirmed that Kebatu got off the London-bound train at Stratford station.
“We are examining CCTV from that area and further afield, including on the transport network, to establish information about his subsequent movements.
“We will provide further updates when we can, but I hope the press and the public will understand why it would be unhelpful to the effectiveness of the manhunt if we were to provide a detailed running commentary.
“Anyone who sees Kebatu, or has information about his whereabouts, should call 999 immediately.”
