Prisoner Released by Mistake Arrested After Manhunt
Sex offender Brahim Kaddour Cherif, 24, was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, triggering a major police search. He has now been recaptured by the Metropolitan Police.
Details of the Release
The Met Police reported it was alerted on Tuesday that Cherif, an Algerian national, had been released in error. Officers were immediately deployed to locate him.
Background and Conviction
Cherif was convicted in November 2024 for indecent exposure related to a March 2024 incident. He received an 18-month community order and was registered as a sex offender for five years.
Authorities stated that he was thought to have links to Tower Hamlets and that he often visited the Westminster area.
Arrest and Police Statement
“At 11.23am on Friday, 7 November, a call was received from a member of the public reporting a sighting of a man they believed to be Brahim Kaddour-Cherif near Capital City College on Blackstock Road in Islington. Officers responded immediately and at 11.30am detained a man matching Cherif's description. His identity was confirmed and he was arrested for being unlawfully at large.”
The spokesperson added that Cherif was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker in a separate case. He is currently in police custody, and the Prison Service has been informed.
Author’s Summary
Authorities recaptured Brahim Kaddour Cherif, mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, after a swift police operation in Islington following a public tip-off.