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WATCH: Barrister explodes at 'lenient' Sentencing Council as Epping migrant handed 12-month sentence
Sep 23, 2025
Barrister Philip Taylor has launched an explosive tirade at the sentencing of an Epping hotel migrant, declaring the term is "outrageously lenient".Speaking to GB News, Mr Taylor said he was "appalled" at the decision made by Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court in sentencing Hadush Kebatu.FULL STORY HERE.
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0:00
Joining us now is barrister Philip Taylor
0:03
Philip, is it likely, so this person has now been sentenced, 12 months in prison, potentially out within four, maybe five
0:11
is it likely that this person could appeal for their sentence and are they able, if they then are given deportation
0:18
able to appeal that as well? Well, the answer firstly is, of course
0:23
everybody has a right to appeal if they feel that the sentence is too severe
0:30
bearing in mind what he was charged with and what the judge has actually, Judge Williams
0:35
has actually passed by way of a sentence. Frankly, I'm appalled listening to this
0:42
I think this is an outrageously lenient sentence which gives all the wrong messages to people who are criminals
0:51
This man, Mr Kabartu, is a criminal. There's no question in my mind about that
0:56
The purpose of sentencing and the purpose of punishment is actually to protect the public against people like this man
1:07
And frankly, I think it's a far too lenient sentence. He going to be out quite quickly My view is if he wants to go back to his country of origin good riddance He ought to pay some sort of penalty though
1:20
by way of a sentence for what he's done. He's probably got no money. He's got a lack of English
1:26
He's got mental health issues, according to what has been said. Oh, yeah. Sorry
1:31
No, sorry, I was just making a slightly sarcastic point that they all have mental health issues, don't they
1:38
Well, of course, what we're hearing is exactly what we hear every time in court when it comes to mitigation
1:43
Now, his mitigation barrister, I'm sure she did a very good job in trying to protect, lower the tariff as much as possible
1:53
But we get back to the same problem, and that is that the sentencing guidelines that we have from the Sentencing Guideline Council are actually far too lenient
2:04
and the public expects people like Mr Kabartu to be given a very substantial sentence for what he's done
2:12
Now, clearly, the district judge has had to operate within the confines of the charges against him
2:20
But think about the effect that this is having on the two women
2:24
the 14-year-old and the adult. You heard from the impact statements how they were very badly affected by this and I concerned that he probably laughing all the way to the jail now thinking I got a way with this one I only have to do a little bit of time
2:38
and then I'm off. And that's not the way to deal with justice. It's not a way to deal with the criminal justice system today
2:45
and I'm not happy about it at all. No, I think a lot of people will share your views
2:49
I've got to ask, though, The judge seems to have given the harshest term that he could within the sentencing guidelines
2:58
Is your criticism of the judge and the court as it served its sentence today or of those sentencing guidelines effectively set out by, well, the politicians
3:09
Well, you make a very good point here because clearly the judge has acted in accordance with what this man was charged with
3:20
I haven't seen the actual indictment, or in fact, in this case, the actual charges themselves
3:26
because it's a magistrate's court matter. Obviously, the problem we have is the limits that the magistrate's court have in terms of the sentencing
3:37
But when we hear what he done it seems to me that perhaps there are a number of other types of offence he might have possibly been convicted of The problem I got with this case again is that it not a criticism so much of the judiciary
3:54
And I wouldn't dream to do that because I think they're operating within the confines of what they have to do
4:00
My concern, again, is with the sentencing guidelines themselves, because I think, again, the Sentencing Guidelines Council is a quango
4:10
It's obviously comprised of people who think they know a great deal about sentencing
4:17
The problem we've got is they're losing the confidence of the British people who think that, in fact
4:23
we should be protected from people like this, and he shouldn't even have been here in the first place
4:27
Those are different arguments, but you see the basic thrust. Philip Taylor, thank you very much
4:32
I mean, the Justice Secretary does have the veto to... You know, veto the sentencing guidelines
4:37
and maybe do something, but unfortunately the Justice Secretary has moved from Shabana Mahmood to David Lammy
4:43
Thank you very much, Philip. Well, we should say that in the last few moments
4:47
the Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, has said that justice has now been served
4:52
and the government must now deport this criminal immediately. The reality is this vile crime should never have been allowed to happen
5:00
Those are the words of the Shadow Home Secretary
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