
Asylum seeker ‘sexually assaulted' girl days after arriving in UK on small boat sparking protest outside migrant hotel
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, is accused of three sexual assaults in two days with all the alleged offences taking place in Epping.
4
4
4
Kebatu, who is originally from Ethiopia, was charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
He appeared at Colchester magistrates' court last week and denies all charges which relate to two teenagers and a woman.
The 38-year-old defendant, of High Road in Epping, was remanded in custody after the hearing.
The charges sparked a protest of about 300 people outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on Sunday.
Those in attendance said they were protesting against the continued use of the local hotel as an asylum centre.
Police had to break up a fight between two men outside the three-star establishment used to house migrants.
Protesters were seen clashing with counter-demonstrators as tensions rose in Epping.
At least two people suffered injuries, but Essex police reported no arrests.
Kebatu is looking at facing a trial within 56 days, District Judge Christopher Williams said in court on Thursday.
Migrant camps brace for impact as UK-France deal fuels crossings
Prosecutor Serena Berry told the 45-minute hearing at Colchester magistrates' court that one of the alleged victims had been approached "on a busy High Street".
She said Kebatu had "no ties to anyone or any place in the UK", adding: " Immigration have confirmed he has only been in the UK since 29 June 2025."
Raphael Piggott, defending, said: "I believe he is here as a refugee or asylum seeker, and that he arrived informally on a boat."
Essex Police said it became aware of alleged offences after a girl reported concerns.
Supt Tim Tubbs said: "We're aware of a significant amount of public discussion around this case - and I understand that."
Targeted police patrols would continue in the town, he added.
4
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Lisa Faulkner speaks out following John Torode's MasterChef sacking
Lisa Faulkner thanked fans for their support after her husband, John Torode, was sacked from MasterChef. Torode was dropped from the BBC cookery show after an allegation of him using an "extremely offensive racist term" was upheld by production company Banijay. Gregg Wallace, Torode's co-host, was also sacked following a seven-month investigation that substantiated 45 claims of misconduct against him. Wallace apologised for distress caused, stating his behaviour changed after 2018 and that a late autism diagnosis helped him understand his communication. Both Torode and Wallace expressed their feelings about leaving the show, with Torode mentioning focusing on other projects and Wallace criticising the BBC for "trial by media".


The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Watch: NYPD officers swarm building after deadly shooting
A police officer and three other people were killed in a shooting at a skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York, on Monday 28 July. The gunman, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, entered the building's lobby armed with an A4 assault rifle. Police officer Didarul Islam, a father of two whose wife is pregnant, was among the four victims. Eyewitness footage taken from a nearby hotel shows NYPD officers entering the office building. Watch the video in full above.


Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Tommy Robinson shouts 'he f***ing came at me, bruv' next to 'unconscious man' at St Pancras station
By MAILONLINE REPORTER Police have launched an investigation after a man was left unconscious at a busy London railway station last night. Paramedics rushed to St Pancras Station, in central London, at around 8.40pm and the man was taken to hospital with 'serious injuries'. Footage circulating online shows right-wing activist Tommy Robinson pacing back and forth beside the unresponsive man lying face-down on the floor. Robinson had earlier posted footage of himself handing out flyers inside the station for an upcoming 'free speech' protest on September 13. He later appeared to be walking in the background as security were called to help the unresponsive man. As stunned bystanders look on, one Good Samaritan can be heard urgently shouting: 'Can we get some help over here!' But Robinson, visibly agitated, throws his arms in the air before turning and walking away down a staircase, repeatedly protesting his innocence. 'He f***ing came at me, bruv,' he yells. 'He come at me bruv, you saw that.' The British Transport Police (BTP) has since launched an investigation into the alleged assault at around 8.40pm on Monday. 'Officers attended and a man was taken to hospital with serious injuries, which are not thought to be life threatening,' a BTP spokesperson told MailOnline. 'Overnight the investigation has been ongoing and officers have been making arrest enquiries.' The scuffle came just hours after Robinson posted a video to his X account, claiming he was in London preparing for what he called 'the biggest free speech event the world has ever seen.' In the clip, Robinson said: 'Today we have walked the route of our event on September 13, where we will be meeting at Waterloo Station.' He added: 'Make your plans. We are having a festival of fun, of British identity, of celebration of every single bit of it.' Despite his history of clashes with the law, Robinson claimed organisers had been 'working with the police' and described their approach as 'very cooperative', insisting: 'We have a good relationship with them, we want fun, they are not our enemy.' Robinson has become a lightning rod for controversy in recent years, often leading far-right rallies and protests across the UK. He was unable to attend his previous high-profile protest, 'Unite the Kingdom', last October after being remanded in custody. Union Jack-waving crowds gathered in Whitehall at the time, chanting 'Oh Tommy Tommy' and 'We want Starmer out' while demanding Robinson's release. Many demonstrators wore 'I am Peter Lynch' badges - a nod to the 61-year-old who died in prison after shouting abuse at riot police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. Others waved flags reading: 'RIP Peter Lynch. Political prisoner.' Videos of Robinson were played out to the crowd, in which he railed against so-called two-tier policing and Ulez charges, as plumes of cannabis smoke drifted through the air. In October, Robinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison after breaching a High Court injunction from 2021 that barred him from repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee. He admitted 10 breaches of the order. In May, his sentence was reduced by four months by the High Court. Robinson, who was previously due to be released on July 26, applied to purge his contempt, with his lawyers telling the court he had shown a 'commitment' to comply with the order. The British Transport Police is urging witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident to text 61016 quoting reference 655 of 28 July.