Crime29 October, 20252 min read
Home Office Pays Migrant Sex Offender £500 to Stop Deportation Disruption and Flies Him Back to Ethiopia
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Hadush Kebatu, a migrant sex offender, was mistakenly released from prison. The Home Office paid Kebatu £500 after he threatened to disrupt his deportation.
7 outlets told this the same way.
Prison Release and Deportation Error
Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from prison instead of being sent to immigration detention. This error prompted a manhunt and his rapid recapture before he was deported to Ethiopia. Both tabloid and mainstream sources agree that he received a £500 payment connected to the removal.
“Hadush Kebatu, an illegal migrant and convicted child sex offender, was deported to Ethiopia after being mistakenly released from prison instead of being sent to an immigration detention center.”
He left the UK under heavy escort, with reports noting a late-night flight and five guards. Officials stress that he has now been deported following the error and quick re-arrest.
Details of Kebatu's Offences
Multiple outlets detail Kebatu’s offences and arrival timeline. He crossed the Channel on June 29 and committed sexual assaults shortly after arriving. He was sentenced to 12 months.
LBC specifies the offences occurred in Epping, Essex. Local reporting adds that he lived in asylum accommodation and that protests followed. These elements frame the severity and public reaction to the case.
Media Coverage of £500 Payment
Coverage converges on the £500 payment but diverges on framing. Daily Express and LBC report Kebatu threatened to disrupt his removal and link the payment to ensuring the deportation proceeded.
“Kebatu threatened to disrupt his removal process, prompting the Home Office to give him a discretionary payment of £500 to ensure his deportation proceeded without further delays or legal complications.”
Stourbridge News explains officials gave £500 to avoid a slower, costlier process with possible legal challenges. The Sun frames the sum as public money, underscoring taxpayer cost and the heavy escort on the flight.
Responses to Prisoner Release
Officials and politicians responded with public anger, procedural checks, and investigations. The Independent reports enhanced checks on releases after public outrage.
Stourbridge News says opposition MPs criticized the handling, an independent inquiry was launched, and a prison officer was suspended. Daily Express quotes the home secretary condemning the release as a serious error, thanking police and the public, and stressing commitment to removing criminals.
Kebatu's Removal to Ethiopia
Reports agree on the end result: Kebatu has been removed to Ethiopia and barred from returning. Local coverage explicitly states he has no right to return. National outlets emphasize the logistics of removal, from a two-day manhunt and forcible removal to a late-night Heathrow flight under the watch of five guards.
“The Home Office confirmed Kebatu has no right to return to the UK.”