'Sex offender' released from Wandsworth prison by mistake identified
A sex offender who was accidentally released from HMP Wandsworth last week has been identified as Brahim Kaddour-Cherif. The 24-year-old, of Algerian descent, was mistakenly freed from the high-security London prison on October 29 and remains at large.
Kaddour-Cherif most recently appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September for failing to comply with sex offender reporting requirements. At the time of his release, he was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal, though he had a prior record of sexual offences.
The Metropolitan Police stated they are conducting urgent enquiries to locate and return him to custody.
“We are making every effort to locate him and return him to custody,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Labour MP for Tooting, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, expressed deep concern after learning of the mistaken release, pointing to the seriousness of his criminal history.
“Local residents will quite rightly be deeply concerned. We urgently need answers from the Government and the Ministry of Justice as to how this was allowed to happen,” she told the Mirror.
Similar recent incident
The incident follows another case in which a convicted sex offender was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in Essex. Hadush Kebatu, 38, evaded capture for three days before being arrested by plain-clothed officers in a north London park on October 26.
Authorities have not indicated whether the two prison release errors are connected.
Author’s summary
A man convicted of sex offences was mistakenly freed from HMP Wandsworth and remains at large, raising public concern and prompting urgent police and government inquiries.