Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, the individual convicted of sex offenses who was mistakenly set free from HMP Wandsworth alongside William “Billy” Smith, has been apprehended following several days on the lam.
Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old from Algeria, was erroneously released on October 29 by prison authorities due to a mix-up where his prison term for knife possession was inaccurately recorded as a suspended sentence in the system. He is a registered sex offender with a conviction for indecent exposure in November 24, resulting in a community order and a five-year registration on the sex offenders’ list. Dramatic footage captured his arrest at 11:30 am in Finsbury Park, located in north London.
The Metropolitan Police disclosed that a member of the public spotted the sex offender earlier in the day, leading officers to swiftly detain the 24-year-old.
In a statement on X, the Metropolitan Police declared: “Brahim Kaddour Cherif, erroneously released from HMP Wandsworth on October 29, has been apprehended. Cherif was sighted by a member of the public in Blackhorse Lane, Islington, just before 11:30 am. Immediate police response led to his arrest.”
Video footage of the arrest shows a police officer identifying Kaddour-Cherif based on his distinctive facial features, despite his denial of being the wanted individual. The offender was heard expressing his frustration about the mistake of his release and the justice system before being taken into custody.
Authorities were observed comparing images of the escaped prisoner on their phones to confirm his identity during the arrest process.
The Met Police further stated, “He has been arrested for being unlawfully at large and is also suspected of assaulting an emergency worker in a prior incident. He is now in police custody, and the Prison Service has been notified.”
The error in release, which occurred on October 29, was not reported to the London Metropolitan Police until November 4, several days later. By that time, Kaddour-Cherif had been free for nearly a week. Following an extensive search across London, he has been returned to Wandsworth, with indications that he had ties to Tower Hamlets and spent time in the Westminster vicinity.
While serving a sentence for trespassing with intent to steal, Kaddour-Cherif had a previous conviction for indecent exposure. Reports suggest he is not seeking asylum but is facing deportation for overstaying his visa.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy expressed relief at Kaddour-Cherif’s recapture, highlighting the urgent need to address the systemic failures leading to release errors. Lammy outlined measures to enhance release checks and modernize outdated prison systems to prevent such incidents in the future.
This development follows the return of Smith, a fraudster mistakenly released on Monday, who voluntarily surrendered to the prison authorities yesterday, concluding a second manhunt by Surrey Police. Smith’s surrender was observed as he calmly walked into the prison premises and identified himself before briefly stepping outside for a cigarette break.