Police in London have arrested an asylum seeker who was accidentally released from prison where he was serving time for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was arrested in the Finsbury Park area of London this morning, the Metropolitan Police said.
A manhunt was launched on Friday after his accidental release from HMP Chelmsford. He was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre to be deported, but was freed by mistake.
Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was jailed for 12 months in September.
He arrived in the UK on a small boat days before the incidents in July and was found guilty of five offences following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates’ courts in September.
The court heard at his sentencing hearing it was his “firm wish” to be deported.
It is understood the British Home Office was ready to take him to an immigration removal centre before a planned deportation from the UK.
Britain’s Justice Secretary David Lammy said Kebatu will be deported. He said: “Kebatu has been arrested, is now in custody and will be deported.
“Thanks to the Met, Essex and British Transport Police for their swift and thorough work.
“I have already ordered the immediate strengthening of release checks and a full investigation into what went wrong.”
Kebatu’s case led to protesters and counter-protesters taking to the streets in Epping, Essex, and eventually outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.
A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation is under way.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “We are urgently working with police to return an offender to custody following a release in error at HMP Chelmsford.
“Public protection is our top priority and we have launched an investigation into this incident.”
Aaron Stow, the president of the Criminal Justice Workers’ Union (CJWU), said Kebatu’s mistaken release is “a profound failure of duty”.