𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

An asylum seeker who sparked nationwide protests after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl must serve his sentence in the UK, a former Brexit Party MEP said. Belinda de Lucy said the case of Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu shows why foreign criminals must remain in British jails.

Kebatu, who arrived in the UK on a small boat, was found guilty of five offences following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates’ courts. He could be deported within weeks under new powers introduced by ministers that came into force on Tuesday.

But de Lucy told the Daily Expresso, our weekday news show on YouTube, that would make the UK a hot spot for “crime tourism”.

She said: “This riles me on every single level, to the very depths of my cells running through my body.

“These men who break into our country, every life ruined by each one of them is clearly at the hands of Westminster who have enabled and been complicit in exposing the British people to this level of risk and to women and to girls, of this extra layer of risk.

“I am so angry that these men are in our country, so angry that we are rewarding these men for breaking into our country.

“If they commit a crime and get immediately deported without serving any sentence what message does that send out to the world?

“It basically says you can come and commit crime tourism. Just get on a plane, get on a boat, come over to the country, rape our women, sexually assault, drug deal, whatever you like, and the taxpayer will then pay for you to go back to your own country of origin without any justice served to the victims.

“So as much as I understand people just wanting to get rid of those who commit crimes in our country who come from abroad, I do think justice needs to be served for the victims. “Otherwise it sends a message out that you can literally hop on a boat, come and commit heinous crimes, and we’ll pay for you to return to your own country.”

De Lucy said she wanted longer sentences and tougher conditions in prison.

She said: “I think the best thing to do is increase the sentences for such heinous crimes like this, but reduce how much we spend on their prison lifestyle.

“Put them in a hole, feed them a stale crusty bit of bread every day, or a bottle of water, that will reduce prices.

“A Gulag is too good for these people. I’ve got four daughters and there is enough risk out there without Westminster importing more risk deliberately, because this is a choice by Westminster, they have a choice of being chained to these international treaties that are hurting the British people.

“I’m absolutely fuming about it.”

A judge told Kebatu his behaviour “really highlights the poor regard you must have for women”.

The sentencing hearing heard Kebatu wants to be deported after serving his time in prison, with his defence lawyer Molly Dyas adding it is a view he held “before the trial”.

The court heard that the defendant also told a probation officer that the “United Kingdom was too strict” after being convicted of sexual assault.

Kebatu, 38, told two teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them” and attempted to kiss them, before going on to put his hand on one girl’s thighs and stroking her hair during incidents in Epping, Essex.

He was also found to have sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

The Bell Hotel resident’s behaviour in July led to protesters and counter-protesters taking to the streets in Epping and eventually outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.

District Judge Christopher Williams said: “It must have been abundantly clear to you that your behaviour was unwanted the previous day, but that did not stop you seeking out and approaching the children again.

“No doubt you were emboldened by the fact that there had been no consequence of your previous behaviour.”