A small boat migrant has appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old schoolgirl and inciting her to engage in sex.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, is alleged to have put his hand on the school-girl’s leg, asked her for a kiss and suggested they make ‘Jamaican babies’ in Epping over two days last week, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court was told.
The Ethiopian asylum seeker, who had arrived in the UK by small boat eight days prior, denied three charges of sexual assault against two girls aged 14 and 16, inciting a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence.
Kebatu’s arrest on Tuesday, July 8, prompted a huge anti-migrant demonstration in Epping on Sunday – and a counter ‘Refugees Welcome’ protest which led to clashes between rival demonstrators.
Now, the court has heard how on July 7 the schoolgirl was allegedly sitting at a bench in Epping High Street with friends eating pizza when Kebatu approached.
Prosecutor Sharon Hall said: ‘Mr Kebatu approached [the schoolgirl] while she was eating pizza. There was some suggestion that the children gave Mr Kebatu some pizza when he asked for it.
‘He then made comments to [the schoolgirl] and another girl, saying “Who wants to have a kiss and make love and have Jamaican babies?”
The judge asked defence barrister Miss Tia Ojo if she accepted those comments.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu (pictured), 38, is alleged to have put his hand on the school-girl’s leg, asked her for a kiss and suggested they make ‘Jamaican babies’ in Epping over two days last week, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court was told
The Ethiopian asylum seeker denied three charges of sexual assault against two girls aged 14 and 16, inciting a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence at Chelmsford Magistrates Court (pictured, file image)
A court hearing before District Judge Williams last week heard that Kebatu, from Ethiopia, had arrived in the UK by small boat just eight days before the alleged sex attacks. Kebatu’s arrest prompted a huge anti-migrant demonstration in Epping on Sunday (pictured)
She answered: ‘Those comments are denied.’
Mrs Hall then told the court that Kebatu approached the same schoolgirl the next day and touched her thigh and touched the leg of a 16-year-old girl the following day.
She said: ‘On 8th July [Kebatu] approached [the schoolgirl] and he tried to kiss her and brush the hair from her face.
‘She moved away at which point the defendant followed her and put his hand on her thigh and then it appears that he was confronted.
‘[Earlier] the defendant tried to kiss [the 16-year-old girl]. He put his hand on her leg and told her she was pretty.’
Miss Ojo, for the defence, told the court: ‘All those allegations he denies.’
The judge also told the court that following his arrest Kebatu had claimed that the schoolgirl had been flirting with him.
He said: ‘Mr Kebatu claimed that (the 14-year-old schoolgirl) was flirting with him and following him around. Is that being claimed by the defence?
‘It is one thing to say that it didn’t happen, it’s another to say that it was the complainant that was following him.’
Prosecutor Sharon Hall also told the court that following his arrest, Kebatu (pictured) had claimed that the schoolgirl had been flirting with him
Pictured: The Bell Hotel where Kebatu had been staying at the time of the incidents. Following protests on Sunday, the hotel was graffitied with slogans ‘go home’, ‘die’ and ‘this is England’ (pictured)
Miss Ojo, for Kebatu, replied: ‘He denies making those comments.’
A court hearing before District Judge Williams last week heard that Kebatu, from Ethiopia, had arrived in the UK by small boat just eight days before the alleged sex attacks.
District Judge Williams told the court he was refusing bail and set the date for a two-day trial on August 26 and 27.
Kebatu stood in the dock wearing a dirty grey t-shirt as he was guided through the proceedings by a translator.
He confirmed his date of birth and that he had been staying at the Bell Hotel, used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers, at the time of the incidents.
Addressing Kebatu, District Judge Christopher Williams said: ‘You will be held in custody until that date. You will be presented in court with an interpreter.
‘The only thing I will say before your trial is that you must make sure you stay in touch and give proper instructions to those how are representing you.
‘If there is any failure on your part, I will not adjourn the case and that could result in you not being represented or having lawyers who are limited in how they can help you.’
District Judge Williams told the court he was refusing bail and set the date for a two-day trial on August 26 and 27. Pictured: police officers separate ‘anti-racism’ demonstrators from others protesting at the scene in Epping on Sunday
The outburst of disorder ignited in the evening, with shocking footage appearing to show one man bleeding heavily from his head as he limped to the hotel
Speaking directly to the judge Kebatu responded: ‘I understand what you say.
‘I never done anything. I am an honest and decent person.’
He was remanded in custody, with a two-day trial set for August.
On Sunday, news of Kebatu’s arrest sparked fierce protests, with hundreds of demonstrators rallying outside of The Bell Hotel in Epping on Sunday.
At least two people suffered injury but Essex Police reported no arrests.
Police were forced to break up a fight between two men as large crowds jeered, with some shouting: ‘F***ing nonce’, ‘f*** off back to Walthamstow’ and ‘paedos’.
The outburst of disorder ignited in the evening, with shocking footage appearing to show one man bleeding heavily from his head as he limped to the hotel.
The following morning, the hotel was seen daubed in graffiti telling asylum seekers to ‘go home’.
Mrs Hall then told the court that Kebatu approached the same schoolgirl the next day and touched her thigh and touched the leg of a 16-year-old girl the following day
Following Kebatu’s arrest, the district’s Conservative leader wrote to the Home Secretary calling for The Bell Hotel’s (pictured) closure ‘without delay’
Police officers were seen talking to private security guards outside the front of the shabby hostel located on the edge of the historic forest today.
Signs in the front door warned visitors the the hotel was ‘not open to the public’ and that the car parking spaces were ‘no longer a public car park’.
Slogans including ‘Go Home’, ‘Die’ and ‘This Is England’ were also sprayed on to two of the large front windows of the hotel.
Announcing the news of Kebatu’s arrest last Tuesday, Essex Police added: ‘We were alerted to reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a teenager in High Road, at 5.20pm on Tuesday July 8.
‘Officers arrived quickly and arrested a man.
‘As a result of the work of officers, offences against a woman and another teenager, which were separate to those which had taken place on Tuesday, were then reported for the first time and an investigation was launched.’
MailOnline previously approached The Bell Hotel for comment.
