A recent incident involving illegal immigrant ship arrivals involved an attempt to inappropriately touch and kiss a young girl in school uniform, sparking summer protests regarding the presence of immigrant hotels in the community. The individual involved was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Haddu Sugars Racey Kebatu, an Ethiopian national aged between 38 and 41, was sentenced on Tuesday at Chelmsford Magistrate’s Court after being convicted on two counts of sexual assault. Additionally, he was found guilty of attempted sexual assault, non-violent harassment, and previous attempts to engage in inappropriate behavior.
Along with the prison sentence, Kebatu, who was a teacher in Ethiopia, will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade. His lawyers have mentioned that he desires to be deported; however, the absence of an extradition treaty between the UK and Ethiopia complicates the situation.
The court heard that on July 7, Kebatu approached a group of children and specifically targeted a 14-year-old girl, complimenting her appearance and making inappropriate remarks about her age. He invited her to a taxpayer-funded hotel room, suggesting they could “make a lovely African baby.” The following day, he met the same girl again, attempting to kiss her and physically assault her.
According to Essex Police, Kebatu persisted with more sexually explicit comments even after being informed of the girl’s age and observing her school uniform.
An adult woman intervened during the situation, offering to help him write a resume, shortly after another incident of harassment. It remains unclear whether Kebatu genuinely intended to seek employment, as asylum seekers are legally prohibited from working.
After touching the woman and trying to kiss her, she reported him to the police, who arrested him minutes later as he attempted to engage with the female student again. The woman testified that Kebatu appeared unaware of the wrongfulness of his actions.
The court acknowledged that Kebatu had only been in the UK for a short time before he started trying to engage young girls in sexual activities. He traveled from Ethiopia through several countries, including Sudan and Libya, before paying a trafficker 1,800 euros to cross the English Channel by boat.
The judge noted Kebatu’s attempts to evade responsibility for his actions by claiming limited English skills and citing mental health issues, highlighting that he poses a significant risk to reoffend and showing a lack of respect for women. It was remarked that his regret seemed more about his own predicament than about the victims.
The sentence quickly faced criticism. David Betts, an academic, noted the disparity in sentences faced by others, suggesting a difference in treatment. The news of Kebatu’s arrest in July triggered grassroots protests in Epping against the existence of immigrant hotels, which amplified calls to protect children during the summer months.
In response to the ruling, Essex police expressed criticism towards the protesters. Assistant Constable Stuart Hooper stated that while many sought to voice their opinions legally, some used the situation as a pretext to commit crimes.
