A manhunt is under way in London after two prisoners were wrongly released from the same jail.
24-year-old convicted Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London on October 29, but the mistake was only reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday.
While 35-year-old William Smith, who was jailed for 45 months for fraud on Monday, was released from the Category B prison on the same day he was jailed.
The releases are a major embarassment for the Government and justice system, coming after migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford last month.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy – who made no mention of the releases at PMQs despite facing questions on the matter- said he was "absolutely outraged".
Follow the latest developments below...
Key Points
- Manhunt underway after second foreign prisoner mistakenly released within a week
- Tooting MP 'horrified' after prisoner mistakenly released from same jail Daniel Khalife escaped from
- Surrey Police reveals second prisoner was also mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth on Monday
Live coverage ends
21:15 , Jacob PhillipsThe Standard’s live coverage of the Wandsworth prison blunders has been paused.
Please return tomorrow to find out all the latest updates on the manhunts for William Smith and Brahim Kaddour Cherif.
Recap: Prisoner wrongly released after court error
20:58 , Jacob PhillipsA fraudster was wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth following an admin error made in court, according to reports.
William ‘Billy’ Smith was sentenced to 45 months behind bars for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday and is understood to have appeared via a video link from the prison.
But he was set free after the court mistakenly told the prison that his custodial sentence was a suspended sentence, Sky News reported.
If Smith had been handed a suspended sentence, his prison sentence would have been delayed as long as he did not commit any new crimes or breach any orders.
You can read more about the mistake in the article below.
How prisoner was wrongly released from Wandsworth prison revealed
Prisoners will be mistakenly released again unless 'crisis-hit' prison system addressed, says London MP
20:24 , Jacob PhillipsUnderlying problems across the “crisis-hit” prison system will lead to repeated mistaken releases of prisoners unless addressed, the chairman of the Commons Justice Committee has said.
Andy Slaughter said: “Reports that two prisoners have been ‘released in error’ from HMP Wandsworth are extremely concerning, especially following the high-profile release from HMP Chelmsford last month.
“Events such as this speak to a wider justice system at breaking point. Evidence taken by the Justice Committee has laid bare a crisis-hit prison system, starved of investment over many years, which is facing multi-faceted pressures, including overcrowding and understaffing within a decaying prison estate characterised by chaos and instability.”
The Labour MP added: “The committee visited HMP Wandsworth as part of its ‘tackling drugs in prisons’ inquiry and found an institution with multiple failings despite the best efforts of its staff.
“The report published just days ago warned the use of illicit drugs and the trade in them across prisons has reached ‘endemic’ levels.
“While the day-to-day running of prison security and public safety are paramount, the current spate of releases in error will be repeated until the underlying failures are addressed.”
Bring back Parliament from recess to discuss mistaken releases, say Lib Dems
20:00 , Matt WattsParliament’s recess must be cancelled so David Lammy can return to the Commons to address the mistaken release of two prisoners from Wandsworth Prison, the Liberal Democrats said.
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson said: “After this appalling series of failures, recess must be cancelled so David Lammy can address Parliament tomorrow.
“Two prisoners have been wrongly released from the same jail in a single week — and the Government is seemingly trying to bury the news before recess.
“This is unacceptable. Ministers must face MPs and be held to account for this prison gates fiasco.”
The House of Commons goes into a short recess when it adjourns on Wednesday night and will return on Tuesday November 11.
Reform UK question whether David Lammy 'deliberately' withheld information
18:40 , Jacob PhillipsReform UK questioned whether David Lammy “deliberately” withheld information from MPs about the prison release when he appeared in the Commons for Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said: “The question is, if David Lammy knew before he went into the House of Commons that information, then did he deliberately withhold that from the House of Commons?
“Which – I’ll be gentle about it – is at the very least poor form.”
Court mistake led to prisoner William Smith being released, reports say
18:04 , Jacob PhillipsMore details have appeared about how prisoner William Smith was released from jail on Monday.
Smith was let out following a sentence mistake by the courts, Sky News reports.
He had been sentenced to 45 months behind bars for multiple fraud offences on Monday and is understood to have appeared via a video link from HMP Wandsworth.
But he was set free after a court mistakenly told the prison that his custodial sentence was a suspended sentence.
A suspended sentence means that a prison sentence is delayed as long as the offender does not commit any new crimes or breach any orders.
A correction was reportedly sent from the court to the prison but it went to the wrong person and was not received in time to stop Smith from leaving.
Recent reports had revealed HMP Wandsworth was 'unfit for purpose'
17:46 , Jacob PhillipsA recent report into HMP Wandsworth had revealed that the prison remained “inhumane and unfit for purpose”
The prison’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) had said there were unacceptable staff shortages at the site, although it had made significant improvements following a catastrophic inspection last year.
Staffing is the most urgent issue at the Victorian category B men's jail, which was built in 1851, the IMB's report for 2024/25 found.
It said the level of staff absence was "unacceptable", describing how the prison of nearly 1,500 men was often run by fewer than 85 officers, while officers received inadequate training.
The BBC has reported that staff at HMP Wandsworth could not provide an accurate number of prisoners, and on average a third of staff were absent of any given day.
You can read more about the state of HMP Wandsworth in the piece below.
Scandal-hit London jail 'recovering' but still 'inhumane and unfit for purpose'
Released prisoner Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was due to be deported, reports say
17:25 , Jacob PhillipsRegistered sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, who was mistakenly released from Wandsworth prison, was set to be deported, according to reports.
The Times reports that Cherif was not an asylum seeker and entered the country legally on a visit visa in 2019.
But he is understood to have overstayed and was in the initial stages of being deported.
Released prisoner William Smith was from Woking, MP confirms
17:14 , Jacob PhillipsLiberal Democrat MP Will Forster has said that it was “utterly unacceptable” that William Smith was wrongly released from prison, especially after Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was mistakenly let go from HMP Wandsworth last week.
The Woking MP confirmed that Mr Smith was from the Surrey town and most of his offences took place there.
Mr Forster said: “I have been informed that the police are actively working to apprehend this person as soon as possible, and they have reassured me that there is no indication of risk to the wider public.
“I understand that this is distressing for Woking residents that a prisoner wrongfully released might have returned to our town.
“This is yet another grave mistake from the Government. The public deserves a full explanation about how this has happened again.
“Both the Government and the Prison Service must own up to their failures and guarantee that these mistakes will stop happening once and for all.”
Met Police shares footage of Brahim Kaddour Cherif arrest
17:11 , Jacob PhillipsAs part of its appeal to help find Brahim Kaddour Cherif, the Met Police has shared footage of the moment he was arrested earlier this year.
The Criminal can be seen wearing a beige cap and a matching gilet as he is handcuffed by a police officer.
Body cam footage later shows Cherif being placed in the back of a police van.
You can watch the footage below.
Brahim Kaddour Cherif 'has had a six-day head start' says the Met
16:54 , Jacob PhillipsThe Met Police has warned the public not to approach Brahim Kaddour Cherif but to call 999 immediately.
Commander Paul Trevers, who is overseeing the manhunt to find the released criminal, said: “It is just over 24 hours since we were informed of Cherif’s release.
“We launched an immediate manhunt and urgent enquiries have been ongoing since.
“Cherif has had a six-day head start but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts.
“We will continue to use all the means at our disposal but we are also appealing for the public's help to find him.
“We have seen in the very recent past how important alert members of the public reporting sightings can be.
“To assist with that effort we have released an image of Cherif and bodyworn video footage from an arrest in September this year.”
Met Police release picture of Brahim Kaddour Cherif as 'urgent investigation' underway
16:52 , Jacob PhillipsThe Met Police has said that an urgent investigation is underway to find registered sex offender Brahim Kaddour Cherif after he was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth last week.
The force said it was informed of the release shortly after 1pm on Tuesday and immediately officers began searching for the missing criminal.
It has now confirmed that the released prisoner is Brahim Kaddour Cherif who is an Algerian national, with sources providing his name to the press earlier on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old is also known to use other variations of his name, including Ibrahim and is believed to have links to Tower Hamlets.
He is known to frequent the Westminster area.
The Met Police also confirmed it was the case that Cherif is a registered sex offender.
He was convicted in November 2024 of indecent exposure relating to an incident in March that year.
He was sentenced to an 18 month community order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years, the Met added.
Second prisoner released from HMP Wandsworth in error
16:30 , Jacob PhillipsA second prisoner has been released from HMP Wandsworth by mistake, Surrey Police has said.
The force has appealed to the public for help finding William Smith, 35, who was released in error on Monday, five days after Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was let out.
Surrey Police said it was carrying out a number of enquiries to try and locate Smith, who often goes by Billy.
Smith was sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, during which he appeared via a live video link from HMP Wandsworth.
He is described as White, bald, and clean-shaven.
Smith was last seen wearing a navy long sleeve jumper with the Nike brand ‘tick’ across the front in white, navy blue tracksuit bottoms with a Nike ‘tick’ in white on the left pocket, and black trainers.
Smith has links to Woking but could be anywhere in Surrey.
Released prisoner revealed to be a convicted sex offender
16:11 , Jacob PhillipsBrahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, from Tower Hamlets, was most recently in court charged with breaching notification requirements as a convicted sex offender.
It was alleged that between July 18 and September 2 this year he "failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the notification requirements" by allegedly "failing to notify with police within three days of release from custody".
He pleaded not guilty to the charge on September 9, and at City of London magistrates court on October 28 he was found not guilty.
Court documents reveal released prisoner pleaded guilty to having a knife
16:07 , Jacob PhillipsBrahim Kaddour-Cherif was handed a six-week prison sentence in June at Southwark crown court, court records show, after he pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.
He was already under a community order which was imposed by Inner London crown court in November last year.
Tooting MP 'horrified' to learn prisoner released by mistake two years after Daniel Khalife escaped Wandsworth Prison
16:01 , Jacob PhillipsDr Rosena Allin-Khan has said she was “horrified” to learn that someone was mistakenly released from Wandsworth Prison “with such a shocking list of offences”.
In a letter to the Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, the Tooting MP said she was “expecting that all levers are being pulled to ensure his prompt return to prison”.
The MP explained that the prisoner, who she did not name, had been in custody on a charge of trespass with an intent to steal, but “also has a history of criminality, including sexual offences that will only compound the fears felt by many across our community”.
She insisted that the fact that the prisoner was released in a similar manner to the high-profile release of Hadush Kebatu “will be troubling for many”.
The MP told the Standard she has been raising concerns about Wandsworth Prison for many years and pointed out that former British Army network engineer Daniel Khalife managed to escape from the prison on September 9 2023, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said: “I’m horrified to learn that someone was mistakenly released from Wandsworth Prison with such a shocking list of offences
“Local residents will quite rightly be deeply concerned. We urgently need answers from the Government and Ministry of Justice as to how this was allowed to happen.”
Released prisoner named as Brahim Kaddour-Cherif
15:25 , Jacob PhillipsSeveral news outlets have now named the Algerian man mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth.
Sources have told the BBC that Brahim Kaddour-Cherif is the missing prisoner.
He most recently appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September on a charge of failing to comply with sex offender requirements, according to the broadcaster.
The Daily Mail has also named Kaddour-Cherif and said he was previously linked to an address in east London.
Recap: Who is Hadush Kebatu?
15:18 , Jacob PhillipsSerious questions have been raised after a second prisoner was released from jail just five days after Epping sex offender Hadush Kebatu was let out of HMP Chelmsford.
Justice Secretary David Lammy has ordered “strengthened checks” at prisons after the blunder over the wrongful freeing of the Ethiopian national.
He is understood to have been released following a “human error” before he was eventually tracked down in Finsbury Park in north London and deported.
But within a week, a second foreign prisoner has been released.
You can read more about Kebatu in the story below.
'Human error' by prison officer led to Epping sex offender Kebatu being wrongly freed
Conservative party criticise Lammy for dodging questions about mistaken prisoner release
15:07 , Jacob PhillipsThe Conservative Party found out about the mistaken release of a prisoner some 15-20 minutes before the start of Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
During the session, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether any other asylum seekers had been released early, apart from Hadush Kebatu.
A spokesman for Kemi Badenoch said: “If we knew, one can only assume the Justice Secretary knew.”
The spokesman said James Cartlidge, who stood in for the Tory leader in the Commons, had given Mr Lammy “the opportunity to front up” but “he ducked it six times”.
Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp described the mistaken release as “shocking,” adding that the migrant defendant represents a “danger to the public”.
He said: “It is shocking that once again the Labour Government has mistakenly allowed a foreign criminal to be released from prison.
“The Algerian offender reportedly has previous sex attack convictions and is clearly a danger to the public. This comes hot on the heels of the mistaken release of Ethiopian sex offender Hadush Kebatu.”
Downing Street points finger at previous Tory government for prison release
14:59 , Jacob PhillipsNo 10 has blamed the previous Tory government following the “utterly unacceptable” mistaken release of a second prisoner.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said urgent action had been needed to “restore faith in the justice system”, pointing out that jails had reached capacity.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman added: “We’ve been very clear as well there is no overnight fix.
“We completely accept that this type of case is utterly unacceptable and needs to be dealt with, and the system needs to be reformed and the appropriate checks need to be in place to stop this type of thing from ever happening.
“The public will rightly view any mistaken release of a prisoner from custody onto the streets as unacceptable.
“It’s importance the police are given the time and space to bring him back into custody. And we will look into the circumstances behind this as a matter of urgency.”
The case would be front and centre of a review into releases in error by Dame Lynne Owens, the official added.
PM was not aware of second migrant wrongly released until police announcement
14:52 , Jacob PhillipsThe Prime Minister was not aware of the second migrant wrongly released from prison until the Metropolitan Police announcement, Downing Street suggested.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters on Wednesday: “The Met have released a statement I think in the last few minutes.”
He said “one mistaken release is one too many” and that the case was “utterly unacceptable”.
The official could not say when Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy became aware of the release, after he refused to answer multiple questions in the Chamber on whether another asylum-seeking offender had been mistakenly freed from prison since Hadush Kebatu.
Scotland Yard says officers carrying out 'urgent inquiries' to try and find Algerian prisoner
14:49 , Jacob PhillipsThe Metropolitan Police has confirmed officers are searching for a prisoner freed by mistake last Wednesday.
A Met spokesperson said: “Shortly after 1300hrs on Tuesday November 4, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday October 29.
“The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.
“Officers are carrying out urgent inquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.”
Manhunt underway after second foreign prisoner mistakenly released within a week
14:47 , Jacob PhillipsA manhunt is underway after a second foreign prisoner was mistakenly released from jail.
A 24-year-old Algerian man was accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London on October 29, but the mistake was only reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday, the force said.
The incident happened five days after migrant Hadush Kebatu was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford on October 24, sparking a large search effort.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy found out about the error at HMP Wandsworth overnight, it is understood.
The Tottenham MP said he had been left “absolutely outraged” by the second release within a week and said the “public deserve answers”.
