Hadush Kebatu’s mistaken prison release sparks fury, inquiry, and swift government crackdown
An Ethiopian asylum seeker who was accidentally released from prison has been recaptured in north London after a three-day nationwide manhunt, prompting government outrage and a full-scale investigation into the prison system’s failures.
Hadush Kebatu, 41, was arrested in Finsbury Park at around 8.30am on Sunday after being mistakenly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday. The convicted offender had been serving a 12-month sentence and was due to be transferred to an immigration detention centre for deportation.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the arrest, saying Kebatu “will now be deported,” while Justice Secretary David Lammy promised a “full independent inquiry” into what he called an “unacceptable and deeply troubling” blunder.
Kebatu’s release sparked public anger and alarm after CCTV showed him travelling across London in his prison-issued grey tracksuit, carrying a white bag decorated with avocados. Images verified by ITV News later showed his arrest in Finsbury Park after a tip-off from a member of the public.
Commander James Conway of the Metropolitan Police said Kebatu was detained following “a diligent and fast-paced investigation” supported by Essex and British Transport Police. “Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park, where they located and arrested Mr Kebatu,” he said, thanking citizens for their “crucial” assistance.
Police confirmed they were first alerted at 8.03am by a caller who spotted a man matching Kebatu’s description near a bus stop. By 8.19am, officers had surrounded the area and detained him without resistance.
The arrest brought relief after a three-day search that had caused fury among victims and their families. The father of one of Kebatu’s teenage victims said his family felt “massively let down” by the justice system and “disrespected” when they sought answers at the prison. “We have been failed by HMP Chelmsford, the police, and this government,” he said in a statement read by councillor Shane Yerrell. “It’s disgraceful that I had to find out from a reporter that my daughter’s attacker had been released.”
Kebatu, who entered the UK by small boat in June 2024, was found guilty in September of five offences against teenage girls. During his trial, he was accused of making sexual advances, touching one victim’s thigh, and stroking her hair. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and had expressed a “firm wish” to be deported.
Following his release in error, Kebatu travelled from Chelmsford to London, taking a train to Stratford before being seen at a Hackney library on Friday evening. Police said he made “a number of journeys” across the city and had “access to funds,” but confirmed he had not received a discharge grant upon release.
Justice Secretary Lammy told reporters outside Wood Green police station that he expects deportation “this week.” He added, “It’s right that there’s a full independent inquiry into what happened. We must ensure this cannot happen again.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said deportation would take place “as quickly as possible.”
The scandal has also triggered political backlash. Chelmsford’s Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman called the blunder “unacceptable,” demanding a “rapid, national inquiry.” She said: “The safety of my constituents and the people of London was put at risk. The prison service had several chances to stop this and failed.”
According to official figures, the number of prisoners mistakenly released in England and Wales more than doubled over the past year — rising from 115 in 2024 to 262 in 2025, a 128% increase.
A prison officer at HMP Chelmsford has been suspended from discharge duties while investigations continue. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that immediate “strengthened release checks” have now been implemented across the prison network.
As the fallout deepens, the government faces mounting pressure to restore confidence in the justice system — and to ensure the chaos that allowed a convicted offender to walk free never happens again.