An Ethiopian asylum seeker, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and another woman in Epping, near London. His arrest in July ignited angry protests outside the Bell Hotel, where he and other asylum seekers were housed, fueling wider demonstrations across the UK amid growing immigration tensions.

Prosecutors said Kebatu tried to kiss the girl, touched her inappropriately, and made disturbing comments. He denied the charges, calling himself “not a wild animal,” but the judge ruled the victims’ accounts consistent. With over 32,000 migrants still living in hotels, the case has further stoked the debate on asylum, immigration, and community safety.