oct 29, 2025 - Sex Offender Deported

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A migrant sex offender mistakenly released from prison was given a £500 payment after threatening to disrupt his deportation from the UK to Ethiopia.

Hadush Kebatu was jailed after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman while living in an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, but was mistakenly freed by prison staff on Friday. He was re-arrested after two days.

The Ethiopian was put on a flight on Tuesday night and landed the following morning, the Home Office said.

The payment was made by the removal team as an alternative to a slower and more expensive process, Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said.

He said Kebatu was "forcibly deported" and accompanied by five escorts on the flight.

Meanwhile, Kebatu told Sky News, external he had tried to hand himself in to a police officer the day before he was re-arrested - but was ignored.

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