Epping hotel asylum seeker jailed over sex assaults 'wants to be deported'

An asylum seeker has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 41, had been staying at The Bell Hotel in the Essex town, with the incident fuelling weeks of protests at the site. The Ethiopian national was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence earlier this month.

It is understood the Home Office will seek to deport Kebatu following his prison sentence. Kebatu's lawyer, Molly Dyas, told Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday he wanted to be deported, calling it his "firm wish" and a view he held "before the trial".

Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months. Handing sentence, district judge Christopher Williams said the asylum seeker posed a "significant risk of reoffending".

He also told the court that Kebatu "couldn't have anticipated" his offending "would cause such a response from the public". "Particularly in Epping," the judge said, "but also across the UK, resulting in mass demonstrations and fear that children in the UK are not safe.

"It's evident to me that your shame and remorse isn't because of the offences you've committed but because of the impact they've had." Kebatu bowed his head to the judge before he was led to the cells. Chelmsford Magistrates' Court was told Kebatu had tried to kiss the teenager, put his hand on her thigh and brushed her hair after she offered him pizza.

The asylum seeker also told the girl and her friend he wanted to have a baby with them and invited them back to the hotel. The incident happened on 7 July, about a week after he arrived in the UK on a boat.

Read more:Migrant hotel critics come face to face with asylum seekersThe key numbers driving the immigration debate The girl later told police she "froze" and got "really creeped out.