Prisoner Released by Mistake Re-Arrested After Manhunt
Brahim Kaddour Cherif, a 24-year-old registered sex offender, was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, prompting an extensive police search. The Metropolitan Police confirmed his arrest shortly after his release error came to light.
Details of the Mistaken Release
Cherif had been convicted in November 2024 for indecent exposure, an offense dating back to March of that year. He received an 18-month community order and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years. He is an Algerian national known to have connections in Tower Hamlets and Westminster.
Police Operation and Arrest
"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. He was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker in relation to a previous unrelated incident. He has been taken into police custody. The Prison Service has been informed."
The prompt response from the public and police led to Cherif’s swift capture, preventing an extended manhunt across London.
Summary
Authorities confirmed that the error leading to Brahim Kaddour Cherif’s release was swiftly corrected after a public tip-off resulted in his arrest within hours in Islington.
Author’s resume: A mistaken prisoner release triggered a police manhunt in London, but the offender was swiftly located and re-arrested after a public report.