The father of the teenage girl sexually assaulted by Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, has met with Justice Secretary David Lammy but refused to forgive him for the government’s failings, reports GB news.
The 41-year-old assailant had been housed at the taxpayer-funded Bell Hotel in Epping when he targeted the girl and a woman in separate incidents, igniting protests outside the migrant accommodation.
During the meeting on Thursday, the father, who cannot be named to protect his daughter’s anonymity, revealed he did not shake Mr. Lammy’s hand.
While acknowledging that the Deputy Prime Minister had “earned” his respect for apologizing in person, the father made it clear that he had not forgiven him or the Labour party for their shortcomings.
Kebatu found guilty of multiple sexual offences after arriving on small boat
Kebatu, who entered the UK on a small boat just days before the June assaults, was convicted of five offences following a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester Magistrates’ Courts.
The court heard how the former “teacher of sports” from Ethiopia had told two teenagers he wanted to “have a baby with each of them” and attempted to kiss them, before groping one girl’s thighs and stroking her hair.
Speaking to ITV News, the father of one of the teenage victims expressed his disappointment, saying, “I wouldn’t say he’s earned forgiveness. At a push, he’s earned my respect today for the way he presented that apology.
“There’s a lot to forgive, and to be honest, I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to forgive for that.”
He added, “I thought today would’ve given me some sort of closure and a bit of a clearer mind. But if I’m honest, it hasn’t. We didn’t get any answers, really.”
Shane Yerrell, a local councillor and spokesman for the family, pressed Mr. Lammy on the possibility of expediting the closure of The Bell Hotel, even though the High Court had rejected the proposal.
Mr. Yerrell stated, “There was no promise to close the Bell Hotel anytime soon. I asked about the contract expiring in March and I wasn’t given a confident answer. He didn’t say yes or no.”