Man whose arrest sparked Epping hotel protest found guilty of sexual assault
A man whose arrest sparked a series of protests outside an Essex hotel housing asylum seekers, has been found guilty of sexual assault.
The Bell Hotel in Epping became the focal point of demonstrations after Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was arrested, and later charged, on 13 July with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.
Ethiopian national Kebatu, 41, was alleged to have attempted to kiss the teenager, put his hand on her thigh and brushed her hair in July after she offered him pizza.
An adult member of the public also accused Kebatu of trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty, days after he arrived in the UK on a small boat.
Kebatu, who was a "teacher of sports" in his home country, had denied two counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence near the Bell Hotel.
But today at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, he was found guilty of all charges. District judge Christopher Williams took just 30 minutes to return the verdicts and his reasoning.
The three-day trial heard Kebatu had also told two teenagers he wanted to "have a baby with each of them" - but Kebatu had previously told the trial he was "not a wild animal".
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
The defendant, wearing a grey tracksuit and sitting with a translator, gave no visible reaction as Mr Williams told him he was guilty.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
The incidents sparked protests and counter-protests outside the former Bell Hotel - as well as similar protests at hotels across the country housing asylum seekers.