On Tuesday, September 23rd, an Ethiopian asylum seeker was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage girl and an adult woman, in a case that sparked weeks of protests across the UK.
In July, the case triggered ldemonstrations outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, England, where the Ethiopian asylum seeker had been staying. Protesters voiced anger over the sexual assault allegations against 38-year-old Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had arrived in the UK via the English Channel on June 29th, 2025.
The protests also highlighted local frustrations with the Home Office’s decision to use the hotel exclusively for migrant accommodation.
District Judge Christopher Williams told Hadush Kebatu that “it’s evident to me that your shame and remorse isn’t because of the offences you’ve committed but because of the impact they’ve had,” as he passed sentence.
Following a three-day trial that concluded on September 4th, Judge Williams found Kebatu guilty of five offences, including two sexual assaults.
Police had arrested him on July 8th in Epping, northeast of London, after he repeatedly tried to kiss a 14-year-old girl and touch her legs, and made sexually explicit comments to her.
He assaulted an adult woman as well by placing his hand on her thigh when she tried to protect the girl.
