Overview

• Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was convicted of two counts of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and harassment after a three-day trial.
• He must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and is subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order, with prosecution costs and a victim surcharge also imposed.
• District Judge Christopher Williams called him manipulative and said his remorse centered on the fallout, as victim statements described lasting fear and anxiety.
• Defense counsel said Kebatu wants to be deported, and a pre-sentence report recorded his comments about not realizing the UK was so strict and acknowledging the unrest his actions caused.
• The case ignited protests at the Bell Hotel and beyond, with several defendants in related violent disorder cases now set for trial in 2026 and a separate legal fight over the hotel’s use continuing into October.