THE sex offender migrant, who was staying in the Epping hotel, has claimed he attempted to hand himself in to cops but was “ignored”.
Hadush Kebatu alleged he told police he was “a wanted man” and requested to be taken back to the station.
Cops have denied the claims, however, insisting they “are not aware” of any evidence to support his comments.
It comes after a two-day manhunt was launched for the convicted sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison just a month into his year-long sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman,
Shocking CCTV footage showed Kebatu strolling around a library in Dalston, East London wearing his prison-issue tracksuit.
Kebatu, who was deported back to Ethiopia on Tuesday night, has now claimed he tried to hand himself in to cops a day before he was caught.
Speaking to Sky News after arriving back in Ethiopia, he said: “I told police, look here, police I am wanted man, I am arrested, I will give you my hand, please help where is the police station? He ignored me, he drove off.”
He added he told the officer his name and that he was wrongly released from prison.
Kebatu said: “I am not unknown. The police station, where is the place? But also I go to police, I will give you my hand please help me where is the police station, take me, I am wanted.
“You know me, or my image, my name is Hadush Kabatu, nationality Ethiopia. Please, I was the mistake release from Chelmsford prison. Please help me.”
The Met Police last night insisted they were “not aware of any evidence to support the claims that Kebatu approached officers on Saturday morning”.
A spokesman added: “The actions of officers who responded to the sighting of him on Sunday morning show how seriously they were taking the manhunt.
“Kebatu’s actions on the morning of his arrest were more like those of someone trying to avoid officers, not trying to hand himself in.”
Kebatu was jailed in July after sexually assaulting a girl near The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, where he was staying.
He was released on the expectation he would be picked up by immigration enforcement and was due on a flight “within days.”
It remains unclear what happened next.
He was filmed by a member of the public sauntering down Chelmsford High Street, still wearing his prison issue tracksuit, shortly after his accidental release.
Kebatu then travelled to London where he remained at large for another day.
Footage showed him on Saturday strolling inside a library in Dalston, East London, at around 6pm the day of his release.
He was later seen “trying to get a free night’s stay” at the nearby Premier Inn, The Sun revealed.
His release from jail saw a prison officer suspended from discharging duties at HMP Chelmsford, it is understood.
Kebatu was removed from the country on a flight to Ethiopia last night, arriving in the African country this morning.
Footage captured one of Heathrow Airport’s runways showed the moment he was escorted onto the plane.
Staff clad in high-vis gear walk Kebatu from a prisoner transport van up a flight of stairs and onto the waiting jet.
The convicted sex attacker was later pictured onboard the plane as it prepared to take off.
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Last week’s blunder should never have happened – and I share the public’s anger that it did.
“I would like to thank the police for rapidly bringing Mr Kebatu into custody and the public for their vigilance.
“I have pulled every lever to deport Mr Kebatu and remove him off British soil.
“I am pleased to confirm this vile child sex offender has been deported. Our streets are safer because of it.
“If you come to this country and commit crimes, we will remove you.”
David Lammy previously announced an independent investigation into the blunder that saw Kebatu freed.
