Hadush Kebatu, a migrant convicted of sexual assaults in Epping, Essex, has been deported to Ethiopia after being mistakenly released from prison. Kebatu, who was living in an asylum hotel, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman. Despite being scheduled for deportation under the Early Removals Scheme (ERS) for foreign national offenders, he was erroneously released from HMP Chelmsford on Friday. Following a two-day manhunt, Kebatu was re-arrested in North London and subsequently deported on Tuesday night, with no right to return to the UK. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her anger over the incident, stating that she had taken every measure to ensure Kebatu’s removal from British soil. She emphasized that the streets are now safer as a result. The mistake, described as a ‘human error’ by Justice Secretary David Lammy, has prompted an independent inquiry led by former Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Dame Lynne Owens. The investigation will examine the circumstances of Kebatu’s release and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents, which have increased in recent years. Immediate controls, including more stringent checks, have been implemented in prisons. A prison officer has been suspended, and no further removals under the ERS will occur this week. Kebatu’s deportation has brought relief to the Epping community, where local protests had erupted following his arrest in July. His crimes, which included sexually explicit comments and assaults, had sparked outrage. Kebatu arrived in the UK on a small boat in June 2023 after traveling through Sudan, Libya, Italy, and France. Under the UK Borders Act 2007, his 12-month custodial sentence mandated deportation.