After days of public outrage and a nationwide manhunt, the Ethiopian migrant who was mistakenly released from a UK prison has finally been deported.
The case sparked anger across the country, not just because of the crime itself, but because of how carelessly the entire situation was handled.
The Mistaken Release That Sparked a National Outcry
Hadush Kebatu, 38, was supposed to remain behind bars at HMP Chelmsford before being transferred to a deportation centre.
Instead, due to what officials are calling a “serious failure in procedure,” he was told to leave the prison on his own.
Prison staff reportedly gave him directions to the nearest train station and told him to make his own way to the immigration centre — a move that has since been described as “unacceptable” by ministers.
Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who arrived in the UK on a small boat, had served just one month of his year-long sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
A Two-Day Manhunt Across London
Once released, Kebatu wandered outside the prison for nearly 90 minutes, unsure where to go.
CCTV footage later showed him traveling to London, with cameras spotting him in Dalston, Hackney, and eventually Finsbury Park.
Police arrested him on Sunday morning — three days after his release — in a dramatic operation involving four officers.
Footage showed him being bundled into a van, wearing jeans, a puffer jacket, and a hood pulled over his head.
The Moment He Was Deported
Footage from Heathrow Airport later confirmed that Kebatu was escorted onto a flight bound for Ethiopia late last night.
The Home Office has since confirmed that he arrived in Addis Ababa this morning — with no right to return to the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed both relief and anger, saying, “Last week’s blunder should never have happened — and I share the public’s fury that it did.
But I’m pleased to confirm that this vile offender has been deported. Our streets are safer because of it.”
Political Fallout and Public Anger
The situation has caused major embarrassment for the Labour government, which is already under fire for its handling of the migrant crisis.
Critics say the mistake exposes deep flaws in the prison and immigration systems.
Tory MP Neil Hudson, representing Epping Forest, called the release a “catastrophic mistake” that had “deeply distressed and angered” the community. He demanded accountability “right to the top.”
Border Security Minister Alex Norris also admitted the situation was “unacceptable,” telling Sky News that it “beggars belief” and promising urgent procedural reforms to prevent a repeat.
Eyewitness Accounts of Chaos at the Prison Gate
A delivery driver who happened to be outside the prison on the morning of Kebatu’s release said the entire scene was “shocking to watch.”
He recalled hearing one officer tell Kebatu how to reach the train station, essentially sending him off without supervision.
“He was standing outside looking lost,” the driver said. “He kept showing them papers, asking where he should go.
But they just told him, ‘You’ve been released, you can go now.’”
The witness added that Kebatu didn’t seem to understand what was happening — he wasn’t trying to flee but appeared to be waiting for instructions on where to report.
A Troubling Criminal Past
Kebatu was convicted just last month after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old schoolgirl.
During his trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, the judge described his actions as “ignorant and repulsive.”
He reportedly stroked the young girl’s hair and touched her thighs, telling her he wanted to have a baby with her.
When a woman intervened, he allegedly tried to kiss her too, calling her “pretty” and placing his hand on her leg.
How the System Failed
The blunder has raised serious questions about how a convicted sex offender could walk free because of confusion inside a prison.
Officials have admitted that checks weren’t done properly before Kebatu was released, and procedures for transferring prisoners to deportation centres are now under urgent review.
Met Police Commander James Conway had publicly urged Kebatu to turn himself in during the search, reminding him that he had already expressed a desire to return to Ethiopia.
What Happens Next
Now that Kebatu has been deported, the focus shifts to accountability.
How could such a major failure happen in a supposedly secure prison system?
The Home Office says an internal investigation is underway, while the government insists new checks are being introduced to stop this from happening again. B
ut for many, the damage is already done — and trust in the system has taken yet another hit.