Sex Offender Mistakenly Released from Wandsworth Prison Identified
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old sex offender, was accidentally released from HMP Wandsworth in London on October 29 and remains at large. Although he was serving time for trespass with intent to steal, he has a prior record of sexual offences.
Kaddour-Cherif recently appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September, charged with failing to comply with sex offender requirements. The Metropolitan Police, stating he is of Algerian descent, are conducting urgent efforts to locate him and return him to custody.
Labour MP for Tooting, Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan, expressed her horror over the mistake, citing the prisoner's "shocking list of offences." She said, "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."
Similar Incident at HMP Chelmsford
This case follows a recent similar event where Hadush Kebatu, 38, a convicted sex offender, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in Essex. Kebatu was free for three days before police arrested him in a north London park on October 26.
Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was captured by plain-clothed police near a Finsbury Park bus stop after being spotted boarding a train to London.
Authorities' Response
- The Metropolitan Police are actively searching for Kaddour-Cherif.
- Government and Ministry of Justice face pressure to explain these prison release errors.
The incidents have raised serious public concerns about prison security and management of sex offenders in the UK.
Author's summary: Two recent accidental releases of convicted sex offenders from high-security UK prisons highlight critical lapses in prison management, prompting calls for urgent government action.