Migrant sex offender is given £500 after disruption threat

A MIGRANT sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison was given £500 after threatening to disrupt his deportation flight back to Ethiopia, Downing Street said.

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The payment to Hadush Kebatu was made to avoid the risk of delay to his return and the higher cost of cancelling his journey, No 10 said. It is understood ministers did not approve the payment, which was an operational decision.

The Ethiopian national was forcibly removed to his home country on Tuesday night with a team of five escorts on the flight, and arrived on Wednesday morning with no right to return to Britain, the Home Office said.

Downing Street said he had attempted to apply for a “facilitated return scheme,” which under successive governments has offered foreign nationals resettlement grants of up to £1,500, but the bid was denied.