Epping hotel asylum seeker jailed for sex assaults after protests
An Ethiopian asylum seeker was jailed for 12 months for multiple sexual offences against a 14-year-old girl and a woman; his arrest outside The Bell Hotel sparked demonstrations in Epping.
A man who arrived in the United Kingdom eight days earlier on a small boat has been jailed for 12 months after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex. Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, was found guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court of two sexual assaults, harassing the girl, inciting her to engage in sexual activity and an attempted sexual assault. His arrest outside The Bell Hotel, where he had been staying while seeking asylum, prompted protests and counter-protests in the town.
Prosecutors said the offences occurred on July 7 and 8 as Kebatu approached the girl and her friend in Epping town centre and invited them back to The Bell Hotel. The trial heard that Kebatu told the girl and her friend: “come back to Africa, you would be a good wife.” On July 8 he was seen telling the girl she was pretty and attempting to kiss her on a bench before placing his hand on her thigh. The girl told detectives she froze and said, “No, I’m 14,” but Kebatu allegedly replied that age did not matter.
A woman who intervened later said Kebatu placed his hand on her thigh when she tried to help him with his CV, and she called the police after seeing him again speak to the girl and her friends. Kebatu told investigators he was “not a wild animal” and that the accusations were false, adding: “This is anti-Christian – these are just children, innocent children.”
During the sentencing, District Judge Christopher Williams said Kebatu had “a significant risk of reoffending” and had attempted to portray himself as a victim. The judge described the offences as “disgusting and sickening,” noting the girl was wearing a school uniform and that the incidents occurred soon after Kebatu’s arrival in the country.
The case highlighted the level of harm faced by the victims and the impact of public demonstrations that followed Kebatu’s arrest. Essex Police praised the victims for their bravery, with Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper saying they “came forward and trusted us with their experience,” and that authorities would continue to support those affected by the case.
Kebatu’s eight-day span in the country prior to the offences included travel through Sudan, Libya, Italy and France before arriving in the United Kingdom, a route referenced during proceedings. Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order is typically required when a foreign national is convicted of an offence and receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. Prosecutors did not specify whether a deportation order would be pursued in Kebatu’s case, but the framework is routinely cited in similar circumstances.
The Bell Hotel became the focal point of intense protests and counter-protests over the summer, reflecting broader debates about asylum seekers and local security. The court’s decision and the surrounding reaction were documented by local and national outlets, underscoring the tension between public safety concerns and the rights of individuals seeking asylum.
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The case, which concluded with Kebatu’s sentencing, adds to ongoing discussions about safeguarding vulnerable people in asylum accommodation and the measures authorities take to address allegations of abuse while managing wider community concerns in towns like Epping.