Speaking to Sky News on the morning he arrived back in Ethiopia, Hadush Kebatu shared details of his accidental release from HMP Chelmsford while awaiting deportation.

Migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu, who was wrongly freed from prison, has claimed in an interview with Sky News that he tried to hand himself in to police a day before he was arrested, but was ignored by officers.

The Home Office said Kebatu, 38, was deported from the UK on Tuesday night.

Speaking to Sky News after he arrived back in Ethiopia on Wednesday morning, Kebatu shared details of his accidental release from HMP Chelmsford on 24 October and the two-day manhunt that followed.

The convicted sex offender was repeatedly questioned on his crimes, but Sky News has chosen not to broadcast this part of the interview.

‘Ignored’ by police

The morning after he was released from prison, Kebatu claimed he tried to hand himself into police, but was ignored.

He said: “I [told] police, look here, police I am wanted man, I am arrested, I will give you my hand, please help where is police station? He ignored me, he drove [off].”

He added that he told the officer his name and that he was mistakenly released from prison.

“I am not unknown. The police station, where is the place? But also I go to police, I will give you my hand please help me where is the police station, take me, I am wanted.

“You know me, or my image, my name is Hadush Kabatu, nationality Ethiopia. Please, I was the mistake release from Chelmsford prison. Please help me.”