Three Men Jailed Over Epping Hotel Riot Following Shocking Sex Assault
Three men have been handed hefty prison sentences for violent disorder outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. The hotel, home to asylum seekers, erupted in chaos after a migrant sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman.
At Chelmsford Crown Court, Stuart Williams, Martin Peagram, and Dean Smith all pleaded guilty to violent disorder linked to the July 17 protests.
Protests Erupt After Migrant’s Shocking Sex Assault
The unrest followed the jailing of Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu, 38, who received 12 months at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court for the assaults. Kebatu had only just arrived in the UK days earlier on a small boat.
Despite Kebatu’s serious crime, the protesters received stiffer sentences—fueling fury and raising questions about the fairness of the justice system.
Violent Scenes as Police Face Brutal Attacks
- About 500 protesters gathered, parading with a flatbed van displaying a ‘Protect Our Kids’ banner.
- Violence raged for over four hours with protesters shoulder-charging police, hurling cans, and pushing officers.
- Martin Peagram, with 14 prior convictions, kicked officers and obstructed their lines; he got two years and two months.
- Dean Smith, 51, punched a police shield and shoved officers, earning a 22-month sentence.
- Stuart Williams went onto a disabled children’s school roof and rang a bell to stir riots, receiving two years and four months.
Essex Police called it the worst disorder in the area for 20 years.
Costly Chaos and Racial Tensions
The protests have cost Essex Police over £1.6 million so far, with thousands attending marches and counter-protests. Judge Jamie Sawyer said the unrest was “partly racially motivated” and crossed the line “from protest to criminality.”
Other Migrant Offenders Also Behind Bars
Along with Kebatu, Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, another Bell Hotel resident, was jailed for 16 weeks for multiple assaults on fellow migrants.
The crimes triggered the wave of disorder that has gripped Epping, severely straining local police resources.
As public outrage grows over harsher sentences for protesters than for the migrant sex offender, hot debates rage over the UK’s approach to justice and public safety.
