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. He was serving a sentence for trespassing with intent to steal but 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 have confirmed his Algerian descent and are conducting urgent inquiries to locate and return him to custody.
Labour MP for Tooting Dr Rosena Allin-Khan expressed shock: "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 another recent error where Hadush Kebatu, a 38-year-old convicted sex offender, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in Essex. Kebatu spent three days at large before being arrested in a north London park on October 26. He was apprehended after being spotted boarding a train to London and was seen being taken away by plain-clothed police officers near Finsbury Park.
The Ethiopian national was pictured in custody following his arrest.
Summary
Two recent prison release errors involving convicted sex offenders have raised urgent concerns about security and oversight in UK prisons.
Author's Note
The mistaken releases underscore serious flaws in prison procedures requiring immediate government action to protect public safety.