Review begins into Epping sex offender's release

Hadush Kebatu was serving a one-year prison sentence when he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford

A review into how a migrant sex offender was mistakenly released from prison is to conclude within eight weeks, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.

Hadush Kebatu was arrested in London after a three-day manhunt that was sparked when HMP Chelmsford freed him in error on 24 October.

His 14-year-old victim has said she felt "so scared and so anxious" due to the blunder, in a statement from her family shared with the BBC.

Dame Lynne Owens, who is leading the review, will consult the family and Kebatu's other victim as part of her inquiries.

Kebatu was jailed for one year in September, having been found guilty of two sexual assaults, harassing the girl and inciting her to engage in sexual activity in July.

The Ethiopian, who was living at The Bell Hotel in Epping at the time of his offending, was deported on 28 October.

Staff were meant to be taking him to a deportation centre when he was instead released.

Shane Yerrell, an independent councillor on Epping Forest District Council, has been speaking to the victim's family since the incident in July.

He said they were yet to receive answers regarding the mistaken release, or an apology.

Yerrell read a statement on BBC Essex which he said was from the teenage victim: "I was in shock and straight away [after his release], I felt so scared and so anxious.

"I was so scared I was going to see him and he would recognise me.

"I couldn't sleep because I was so worried he was going to come back to Epping looking for me."

Kebatu's initial arrest prompted months of anti-immigration and pro-migrant demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel, which became violent on occasion.

The offender was given a £500 payment after threatening to disrupt his deportation, which the government said was an alternative to a slower and more expensive process.

The victim's statement continued: "When I got home I just cried because I felt like he got paid for what he had done to me."

The Bell Hotel was the focus of many intense protests over the summer

Confirming a review would take place, Justice Secretary David Lammy vowed: "We will get to the bottom of what happened in this case.

"We will take whatever steps necessary to tackle the spike in releases in error, so that we can uphold the first duty of every government, which is to keep the public safe from harm."

Dame Owens, a former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, will consider the following issues:

• Whether the relevant protocols around prisoner discharge were in place at HMP Chelmsford

• If staff had sufficient experience, training, tools and technology to apply them appropriately

• The extent to which the protocols were properly complied with

• What has caused a "spike" in releases in error across the prison estate

• Whether the existing protocols and operating procedures that govern prisoner discharges are sufficiently robust

• Make recommendations that can be implemented to reduce the likelihood of a repeat incident

The report and any recommendations are due to be submitted to Lammy and the permanent secretary at the MoJ within eight weeks.