Summary

  • Hadush Kebatu has been found guilty on all five counts he was charged with

  • Kebatu, an asylum seeker who was staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was on trial for two counts of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, inciting a child into sexual activity and harassment without violence

  • He pleaded not guilty to all the offences and claimed the allegations against him were "simply fabrication"

  • The judge, delivering his verdict, said the evidence against Kebatu was "clear and consistent"

  • Kebatu, originally from Ethiopia, showed no reaction as the judge read out the verdicts, our reporter writes from court

  • His arrest led to a wave of anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations

Live Reporting

Edited by Gareth George and Alex Smith, with Lewis Adams and Daniel Sandford reporting from Chelmsford Magistrates' Court

  1. What the court has heard so far

    Last week Kebatu's trial heard evidence over the course of two days - here's what was said:

    • The court heard last week that Kebatu told two 14-year-old girls eating pizza in a town centre that he "wanted to have a baby with them" and tried to kiss them
    • He allegedly propositioned the teenagers "without any encouragement" after accepting an offer of food from them in Epping, Essex, on 7 July
    • Prosecutor Stuart Cowen said Kebatu recently arrived in the UK and the case had "attracted quite a lot of publicity because of the defendant's personal circumstances"
    • Molly Dyas, defending, said the asylum seeker, who had been staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping, denied all allegations made against him, but accepted being in the town centre at the time
    • Giving evidence himself, Kebatu told the court he is not a "wild animal", saying he was born in Ethiopia and had been in the hotel "about" a week before his arrest
    • He said he "never" told the girls he wanted to have a baby with them and called the allegations against him "simply fabrication"

    You can read more about what's happened in the trial so far here.

    Bodycam footage shows Hadush Kebatu being arrested for Epping assault

  2. Court to hear closing statements in Epping sexual assault trial

    The trial of a man accused of multiple sexual assaults in Epping resumes at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today.

    Hadush Kebatu denies all five charges against him, including sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, harassment and inciting a child into sexual activity.

    Kebatu, who is from Ethiopia, had been staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping prior to the allegations, which prompted a wave of anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations in the area in recent weeks.

    Following Kebatu's two-day trial last week, today will see both the defence and prosecution's closing speeches to the court.

    As the trial is being held at a magistrates' court, there is no jury. The judge is expected to return a verdict later this afternoon.

    Our team at court will be on hand to bring you all the updates here as they happen.

    Court sketch of Hadush Kebatu at his trial last weekJulia Quenzler

    Court sketch of Hadush Kebatu at his trial last week