A convicted sex offender who was mistakenly released from Wandsworth Prison has been re-arrested after a six-day manhunt. Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, originally from Algeria, was freed on October 29, 2023, due to an administrative error. The Metropolitan Police confirmed his capture in Islington on November 4, 2023.
The Metropolitan Police launched a search for Kaddour-Cherif after learning of the mix-up a week after his release. This delay gave him a significant head start, prompting frustration within the force. Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal when the error occurred.
Kaddour-Cherif’s criminal history includes a conviction for indecent exposure in November 2024, for which he received an 18-month community order and was placed on the sex offender register for five years. His past also includes convictions for theft.
He entered the UK on a visitor visa in 2019 but was flagged as an overstayer on February 6, 2020. Despite being identified for deportation, he had not yet been removed from the country at the time of his release.
The police reported that Kaddour-Cherif is known to use variations of his first name, including Ibrahim, and has links to areas such as Westminster and Tower Hamlets.
This incident raises concerns regarding prison administration and immigration procedures, particularly in cases involving individuals with serious criminal backgrounds.
As the investigation into the error continues, the Metropolitan Police have emphasized the importance of reviewing protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The implications of Kaddour-Cherif’s release and subsequent capture highlight ongoing challenges within the justice system regarding the oversight of offenders who are also immigration cases.
