Epping migrant sex attacker Hadush Kebatu has been deported to Ethiopia – just days after an accidental prison release left him roaming the streets of London.
Kebatu, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, was mistakenly set free on Friday.
After a two-day police manhunt, he was arrested in the capital on Sunday morning.
GB News understands the paedophile was removed on a flight last night to Ethiopia and arrived on Wednesday morning.
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, said: “Last week’s blunder should never have happened – and I share the public’s anger that it did. I would like to thank the police for rapidly bringing Kebatu into custody and the public for their vigilance.
“I have pulled every lever to deport Mr Kebatu and remove him off British soil. I am pleased to confirm this vile child sex offender has been deported. Our streets are safer because of it.
“If you come to this country and commit crimes, we will remove you.”
Deputy PM David Lammy added: “Kebatu has been returned to Ethiopia where he belongs. I am grateful to Home Office colleagues for acting swiftly to secure his deportation.
“I have been clear from the outset that a mistake of this nature is unacceptable, and we must get to the bottom of what happened.”
Mr Lammy pointed to yesterday’s news that he had set up an independent inquiry into Kebatu’s release – and vowed further action to “stop similar unacceptable errors in future”.
Kebatu had been slated to be sent to an immigration detention centre to be deported – but was mistakenly freed in a calamitous gaffe on Friday morning.
He then spent some time wandering around Chelmsford, Essex, before boarding a train to Stratford, east London.
THE HUNT FOR HADUSH KEBATU – AS IT HAPPENED:
WATCH: CCTV footage of Hadush Kebatu in London after his erroneous prison release
CCTV footage of the migrant paedophile slowly emerged over the next day, before police finally found him in Finsbury Park, in the capital’s north, early on Sunday.
One witness to his arrest had told The Sun at the time he looked “glum”.
During the manhunt for Kebatu, Robert Jenrick told GB News: “It’s a complete disgrace that this individual has been released in this way.
“It’s like a parable for how broken our country is right now, that somebody who was the subject of so much public interest, the protests in Epping, which I went to see and to stand shoulder to shoulder with the mums and the grandmothers and the local residents there should finally be dragged through the courts, found guilty and now should have been deported.
PICTURED: Protesters holding signs outside the Bell Hotel in Epping
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GETTY“But instead, due to this absolutely astonishing failure he is out on the streets of our country, potentially causing harm to our citizens.”
Kebatu being charged with sexual assault was the lightning rod for many of the migrant hotel demonstrations this summer.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Bell Hotel where he resided for days holding signs reading “defend our girls” and chanting “save our kids”.
The Home Office highlighted how Kebatu was among more than 5,100 foreign criminals who have been removed from the country under Labour.
Of the total returns in the one year following the General Election, 5,179 foreign national offenders (FNO) were removed.
This is an increase of 14 per cent compared to the 4,532 FNO returns in the final 12 months of Rishi Sunak’s Government.
