Three men convicted over violent disorder outside an asylum hotel in Essex have been sentenced to prison terms longer than the Ethiopian migrant whose sexual assault case sparked the unrest.
The sentences were handed down at Chelmsford Crown Court following disorder outside the Bell Hotel in Epping in July. The hotel had been housing asylum seekers, including Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who had arrived earlier that month to the UK by small boat. Kebatu was later convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and an adult woman within days of his arrival. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison in September and was due to be deported after serving his term.
In contrast, three local men involved in July protest were each handed longer custodial sentences for violent disorder during the demonstration, which police said lasted several hours and involved sustained attacks on officers. Stuart Williams, 36, a painter and decorator from Epping, was sentenced to two years and four months after kicking at a police officer and climbing onto the roof of the hotel. Martin Peagram, 33, a roofer from Loughton, received two years and two months for kicking officers and throwing an object at police during the disorder. Dean Smith, 51, a Waitrose employee from Epping, was jailed for one year and ten months after shoving officers and striking a police shield.
Judge Jamie Sawyer said he was “satisfied this was racially motivated — at least in part,” and told the defendants that their actions went beyond lawful protest. “Each of you, what you did went beyond protest and that became criminal when you acted as you did,” the judge said.
The demonstration drew hundreds of people and followed Kebatu being charged with sexual offenses. Police said officers were subjected to sustained violence for more than four hours as the situation escalated.
Separately, Kebatu was mistakenly released from prison earlier this year before being transferred to immigration detention, prompting a manhunt. He was re-arrested two days later in London and subsequently deported to Ethiopia in late October. The Home Office confirmed he was removed on a flight accompanied by five escorts.
Government officials said a £500 payment was authorized by removal staff as part of efforts to prevent delays during the deportation process. Officials described the payment as an alternative to a longer and more costly removal procedure. Kebatu later claimed he had attempted to surrender to police after his release, a claim the Metropolitan Police said was unsupported by evidence.
The sentences were handed down at Chelmsford Crown Court following disorder outside the Bell Hotel in Epping in July. The hotel had been housing asylum seekers, including Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who had arrived earlier that month to the UK by small boat. Kebatu was later convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and an adult woman within days of his arrival. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison in September and was due to be deported after serving his term.
In contrast, three local men involved in July protest were each handed longer custodial sentences for violent disorder during the demonstration, which police said lasted several hours and involved sustained attacks on officers. Stuart Williams, 36, a painter and decorator from Epping, was sentenced to two years and four months after kicking at a police officer and climbing onto the roof of the hotel. Martin Peagram, 33, a roofer from Loughton, received two years and two months for kicking officers and throwing an object at police during the disorder. Dean Smith, 51, a Waitrose employee from Epping, was jailed for one year and ten months after shoving officers and striking a police shield.
Judge Jamie Sawyer said he was “satisfied this was racially motivated — at least in part,” and told the defendants that their actions went beyond lawful protest. “Each of you, what you did went beyond protest and that became criminal when you acted as you did,” the judge said.
The demonstration drew hundreds of people and followed Kebatu being charged with sexual offenses. Police said officers were subjected to sustained violence for more than four hours as the situation escalated.
Separately, Kebatu was mistakenly released from prison earlier this year before being transferred to immigration detention, prompting a manhunt. He was re-arrested two days later in London and subsequently deported to Ethiopia in late October. The Home Office confirmed he was removed on a flight accompanied by five escorts.
Government officials said a £500 payment was authorized by removal staff as part of efforts to prevent delays during the deportation process. Officials described the payment as an alternative to a longer and more costly removal procedure. Kebatu later claimed he had attempted to surrender to police after his release, a claim the Metropolitan Police said was unsupported by evidence.
