Epping asylum seeker jailed for sexual assault of woman and girl, 14

An asylum seeker staying at a hotel in Essex that became the focus of protests has been jailed for 12 months for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and a woman.

- Ben QuinnRajeev Syal

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, who had been living in the Bell hotel in Epping, was found guilty last month of two counts of sexual assault and one of attempted sexual assault, committed days after arriving in the UK on a small boat.

Anger over the case prompted protests outside the hotel over the summer that far-right activists and others sought to exploit.

Kebatu wants to be deported after serving his time in prison, his lawyer told Chelmsford magistrates court. His sentence was announced as new rules came into force yesterday under which foreign prisoners could be deported at an earlier point in their sentence to free up jail space. Those serving fixed-term sentences with no right to stay in the UK could now be deported after serving 30% of their jail term, instead of half of it.

It is understood that the Home Office will now seek to deport Kebatu, who has served 30% of his sentence, owing to time spent in custody.