Manhunt after second sex offending migrant accidentally released from prison - and he's been at large for a week

The Algerian man, 24, was accidentally released from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday last week.

The name of the man mistakenly released has been confirmed by sources as Brahim Kaddour-Cherif.

He most recently appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September on a charge of failing to comply with sex offender requirements.

The Metropolitan Police was only informed at lunchtime on Tuesday this week that he was missing.

It is the second high profile case within weeks of a migrant offender being freed after sex offender Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released instead of being deported.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Shortly after 13:00hrs on Tuesday, 4 November, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday, 29 October.

“The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.

“Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.”

The prisoner was serving time for trespass with an intent to steal but has previously committed sexual offences.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “I am absolutely outraged and appalled by the mistaken release of a foreign criminal wanted by the police. The Metropolitan Police is leading an urgent manhunt, and my officials have been working through the night to take him back to prison.

“Victims deserve better and the public deserve answers. That is why I have already brought in the strongest checks ever to clamp down on such failures and ordered an independent investigation, led by Dame Lynne Owens to uncover what went wrong and address the rise in accidental releases which has persisted for too long.

“This latest incident exposes deeper flaws across the failing criminal justice system we inherited. Dame Lynne Owens’ investigation will leave no stone unturned to identify these issues, so we can fix them, improve safeguards and ensure the public is properly protected.”

Tooting MP 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.”

The development came minutes after David Lammy refused to say whether any further asylum-seeking defendants had been accidentally let out, after he was repeatedly asked at PMQs.

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge asked multiple times whether there had been any further mistaken releases after sex criminal Hadush Kebatu was freed.

Addressing Mr Lammy, Mr Cartlidge said: “He’s the Justice Secretary. He’s responsible for the justice system. He needs to take responsibility.

“And I’m going to repeat it once more for the avoidance of doubt, because he did not answer it twice.

“Can he reassure the House that since Kebatu was released, no other asylum-seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?”

Mr Lammy, who stood in for Sir Keir Starmer, responded: “Get a grip, man, I know I’m the Justice Secretary, that’s why I’m at the despatch box.”

“We know that there have been spikes since 2021 under his watch. When did he come to this House and apologise?”

Sex offender Hadush Kebatu, whose actions sparked nationwide anti-Migrant protests, was arrested in London on 24 October following a three-day manhunt after he was also mistakenly freed.

Kebatu was jailed for one year in September, having been found guilty of two sexual assaults, harassing a 14-year-old girl and inciting her to engage in sexual activity in July.

The Ethiopian, who was living at The Bell Hotel in Epping at the time of his offending, was deported on 28 October.

Staff were meant to be taking him to a deportation centre when he was instead released.