An Ethiopian asylum seeker has been sentenced to 12 months in prison in the UK after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and a woman, crimes that sparked anti-migrant protests across the country.
The man, identified as Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, was convicted of five offences including sexual assault, harassment, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. According to prosecutors, he had arrived in England by small boat just over a week before the incidents. In early July, Kebatu approached a 14-year-old girl in Epping, northeast of London, where he tried to kiss her and touched her inappropriately.
His arrest triggered anger in the community. Thousands of people gathered outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where Kebatu had been housed along with other newly arrived migrants. The protests quickly spread to other towns and cities, many of them targeting hotels used by the government to accommodate asylum seekers. Some of these demonstrations were joined by far-right groups.
During sentencing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Christopher Williams described the assault on the schoolgirl as a “disgusting and sickening” experience. He added that Kebatu had tried to portray himself as a victim but noted that he could not have foreseen how his actions would fuel protests across the UK.
The judge said the case had heightened fears among the public, particularly regarding the safety of children. Kebatu told the court that he wished to be deported after serving his prison sentence.
The case has drawn more attention to the government’s use of hotels to house asylum seekers while their applications are processed. Critics argue that the policy costs taxpayers millions of pounds and often creates tension in local communities. Migrants housed in these hotels also report feeling unsafe and targeted as protests continue.