An asylum seeker has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman and a 14-year-old girl in Epping town centre just days after arriving in the UK on a small boat.

Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu’s actions in July sparked protests and counter-protests in Essex and outside hotels housing asylum seekers all over the country.

His three-day trial heard how he told two teenagers he wanted to "have a baby with each of them" and attempted to kiss them, before going on to put his hand on one of the girls' thighs and stroke her hair.

The defendant was also found to have sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

District judge Christopher Williams took just 30 minutes to return his guilty verdicts and his reason

See Full Page