🔴 BOAT MIGRANT CHARGED WITH SEX ATTACKS DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL

An Ethiopian migrant who crossed the Channel by small boat just over a week before his court appearance has been 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, all alleged to have been committed over a two‑day period in Essex, prosecutors told the court .

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, formerly of the Bell Hotel in Epping, appeared before Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was formally 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.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 July in Epping, a market town on the edge of the London commuter belt. Prosecutors confirmed the defendant had no known links, contacts or ties to any person or address within the United Kingdom.

The court was told that Kebatu had arrived on British soil on 29 June 2025, part of a wave of irregular arrivals recorded by the Home Office that day. A total of 585 migrants were said to have reached the south coast in eight dinghies, with Kebatu understood to be among them. He has since claimed asylum, although his immigration status remains under review.

District Judge Christopher Williams remanded the defendant in custody, ordering that he be tried within 56 days. The case is now expected to proceed to trial later this summer.

Raphael Pigott, defending, told the court: “I believe he is here as a refugee or asylum seeker, and that he arrived informally on a boat.” The Crown did not contest this assertion, but highlighted the extremely short time frame between Kebatu’s entry into the country and the alleged offences.

Essex Police confirmed officers were first alerted at approximately 5.20pm on Tuesday 8 July, following reports of a man behaving inappropriately on High Road, Epping. A suspect was arrested at the scene within minutes. Subsequent inquiries, police said, led to the identification of further offences which had occurred on the previous day but had not been reported at the time.

Superintendent Tim Tubbs of Essex Police said: “As a result of the work of officers, offences separate to those which had taken place on Tuesday were then reported for the first time and an investigation was launched.” He added that police were working closely with partners to monitor the situation and that patrols in the area had been increased in response.

A Home Office spokesperson, responding to the incident, stated: “The asylum system is under strain… but we have begun to restore order, with a rapid increase in asylum decision-making and the removal of more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK.” They added that efforts to reduce the use of asylum hotels were ongoing, with a view to lowering the cost burden on the taxpayer.

Official data confirms that 55 asylum seekers are currently being accommodated within the Epping Forest local authority district. It is not yet known whether Kebatu was housed in one of those premises prior to his arrest.

No pleas were entered during Thursday’s hearing, but Kebatu is expected to maintain his denials throughout. The court confirmed the defendant will remain in custody pending further hearings and a Crown Court trial date is to be set.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.