Council thanks police for prosecution
Epping Forest District councillors have thanked Essex Police, following the successful prosecution of Hadush Kebatu for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Epping High Street.
Deep debt of gratitude to Essex Police
I wish to speak on behalf of all councillors. I hope the successful conviction of Hadush Kebatu will have come as some relief to his victims and their families, although I do not underestimate the lasting impact the crime will have upon all of them. No one should be put through the ordeal they have experienced. While the sexual assault has sparked protests across the country, it is vital never to forget the young lives at the centre of the case. Perhaps now that justice has prevailed and we await sentencing, they can begin the process of putting their lives back together.
We also owe a deep debt of gratitude to Essex Police from the moment of first response through to prosecution. This has been an incredibly high profile case but Essex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have behaved with distinction. This conviction sends a message to would be perpetrators that such crimes will not be tolerated. It also sends a message of reassurance to our residents. The streets of Epping and the rest of Epping Forest remain among the safest thanks to the dedication of our local police officers. You put yourselves in harms way for our protection every day and we thank you.
Of course the police can only do their job with the support of the courts and I am very pleased to see the decision of District Judge Christopher Williams who presided over the case. The perpetrator has been told to expect a custodial sentence.
The impact of these crimes has not gone away. They have highlighted the public asylum seeker debate, but the impact has been most strongly felt by our residents. From the demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel to the steps of the High Court, Epping has been at the epicentre.
Now that justice has been done, I hope we can all take some comfort from knowing this chapter at least is coming to a close.
Councillor Paul Keska Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services
Essex Police
Read the news article from Essex Police
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