Man told girls in Epping he wanted to ‘have a baby’, court hears

A man told two 14-year-old girls eating pizza in a town centre that he “wanted to have a baby with them” and tried to kiss them, a court heard.

Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, allegedly propositioned the teenagers “without any encouragement” after accepting an offer of food from them in Epping, Essex, on 7 July.

Allegations of the incident led to a wave of anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel, where Mr Kebatu was staying as an asylum seeker.

He denies sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and harassment without violence.

In court, Mr Kebatu gave his date of birth as December 1986, making him 38, but court records have suggested he is 41.

Prosecutor Stuart Cowen said Mr Kebatu recently arrived in the UK and the case had “attracted quite a lot of publicity because of the defendant’s personal circumstances”.

Opening the trial, Mr Cowen said the defendant approached the girls, who were sitting on a bench eating pizza, and made “inappropriate comments”.

“It is the Crown’s case he said he wanted to have a baby with each of them and attempted to kiss them,” Mr Cowen said.

“He invited them back to The Bell Hotel where he was a resident, having recently arrived in the UK.”

Having been rejected and told the girls were 14, Mr Kebatu responded “age did not matter”, Mr Cowen said.

He said the girls left the area but were approached by the asylum seeker the following day.

On this occasion, it was alleged one of the teenagers was wearing her school uniform.

Mr Cowen said she became uncomfortable and when a male friend intervened, Mr Kebatu asked them to kiss before later placing his hand on her thigh.

“She will tell the court that while the defendant was behaving in this way, he appeared to have an erection,” the prosecutor added.

In an interview with police, played to the court, one of the girls said Mr Kebatu “kept leaning in, pouting his lips” at her, adding “he was really eager for a kiss”.

“[He said] if I come back to the hotel with him we can make babies,” she alleged.

Asked how it made her feel, the girl told an officer: “I couldn’t really move, it just shocked me. I didn’t know what to do. My mind went blank.

“I felt sick to my stomach. I didn’t think a fully grown man would think it was OK to do that.”

Judge Christopher Williams was also told a woman asked if Mr Kebatu needed help, but, shortly afterwards, he “sexually assaulted her by putting his hand on her leg” and trying to kiss her.

Police officers were called and arrested Mr Kebatu nearby, the court was told.

Molly Dyas, defending, said the asylum seeker denied all allegations made against him, but accepted being in the town centre at the time.

On 19 August, Epping Forest District Council secured a High Court victory temporarily blocking the venue from housing asylum seekers.

The trial, expected to conclude on Wednesday, continues.