Sex Offender Released by Mistake Found and Arrested
A large-scale manhunt was launched after Brahim Kaddour Cherif, a sex offender, was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth prison. The 24-year-old was quickly located and arrested by the Metropolitan Police.
Background and Conviction
Cherif was convicted in November 2024 of indecent exposure related to an incident that took place in March of the same year. He received an 18-month community order and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
Police Search and Arrest
- Cherif, an Algerian national, was known to have connections to Tower Hamlets and frequented the Westminster area.
- The Metropolitan Police were informed about his mistaken release on Tuesday and launched an immediate operation.
- On Friday, 7 November, at 11:23 am, a member of the public reported seeing a man believed to be Cherif near Capital City College on Blackstock Road in Islington.
- Officers responded swiftly, detaining and confirming Cherif's identity at 11:30 am.
- He was arrested for being unlawfully at large, and also on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker in a previous unrelated incident.
"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 in the vicinity of 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." — Metropolitan Police spokesperson
The rapid police response ensured the offender was quickly taken back into custody after the administrative error.
Author's summary: A sex offender accidentally released from prison was swiftly located and re-arrested after a public tip-off and fast police action, highlighting effective law enforcement response.