Epping hotel asylum seeker jailed for 12 months over sex assaults that sparked protests

A man whose crimes led to protests outside a hotel in Essex has been jailed for a year for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.

Hadush Kebatu was found guilty of touching and trying to kiss the schoolgirl in Epping on 7 and 8 July.

His arrest led to a wave of demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel, where he was staying as an asylum seeker from Ethiopia.

His barrister, Molly Dyas, said: "Mr Kebatu's firm wish is to be deported as soon as possible."

The judge at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court said it must have been a "disgusting and sickening" experience for the girl, who was wearing school uniform at the time.

"Every time I go out with my friends I am checking over my shoulder," the victim said in a statement.

Kebatu was found guilty of two sexual assaults, harassing the girl, inciting her to engage in sexual activity and an attempted sexual assault.

His committed the crimes eight days after he arrived in the UK by small boat, having travelled through Sudan, Libya, Italy and France.

Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made when a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months.

Kebatu attempted to kiss the girl and placed his hand on her thigh, before asking her to kiss another child as he watched, his trial heard.

A woman who later intervened said Kebatu "took advantage of my kindness" when he placed his hand on her thigh as she tried to help him with his CV.

She called the police when she later saw Kebatu go and speak to the girl and her friends.

Kebatu insisted during his three-day trial he was "not a wild animal", adding: "I can't do these kind of things, this is anti-Christian – these are just children, innocent children."

But sentencing him, District Judge Christopher Williams said: "You sought to portray yourself as a victim and that you'd been made to be a scapegoat."

The judge said Kebatu had tried to take his own life in prison, having been aware his offending caused "mass demonstrations" in the UK.

"He says because of the situation, Epping was in chaos and he'd got a lot of other migrants in trouble," prosecutor Stuart Cowen said.

"There was also comments made by Mr Kebatu where he states that he didn't know how strict the UK was."

During the trial, a child witness claimed to have heard Kebatu telling the girl and her friend on 7 July "come back to Africa, you would be a good wife" .

Kebatu had seen them eating pizza in Epping town centre and invited them back to The Bell Hotel.

"Out of nowhere, he said: 'I want one baby from you and one baby from your friend'," the girl told police.

The following day, Kebatu was seen telling her she was pretty and attempting to kiss her on a bench, before placing his hand on her thigh.

She told detectives she "froze" during the encounter and told Kebatu "no, I'm 14", but claimed he responded "age did not matter".

The judge added: "It must've been abundantly clear to you that your behaviour was unwanted."

Kebatu was overheard telling the girls he paid €2,500 (£2,155) to arrive in the UK on a "rubber dinghy", the court heard.

At the trial, he gave his date of birth as December 1986, making him 38, but court records suggested he was 41.

Giving evidence, Kebatu told the judge he was a "teacher of sports" in Ethiopia and described children as "the future of tomorrow, the new generation".

However, the judge said he posed a "significant risk of reoffending" and that he became "visibly aroused" by asking the girl to kiss another child.

Judge Williams said Kebatu then "acted ignorantly and repulsively" when he sexually assaulted the woman who tried to help him with his CV.

"She is a confident woman who rightly stood up for herself and, just as importantly, stood up for those more vulnerable than her."

The assistant chief constable of Essex Police, Stuart Hooper, said the victims showed bravery in securing Kebatu's conviction.

He said: "They came forward and trusted us with their experience and today I want to say a personal thank you to them for their courage."