A sex offender who was wrongly released from a south-west London prison has been apprehended following a nine-day manhunt across the capital.
The mistaken release and delayed alert
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, was accidentally set free from HMP Wandsworth on 29 October. The Metropolitan Police were not informed about the serious error until Tuesday, several days after his release had occurred.
Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal at the time of his mistaken discharge. He also has previous convictions for indecent exposure, marking him as a registered sex offender.
Public vigilance leads to arrest
The intensive search concluded on Friday, 7 November 2025, when a member of the public spotted the wanted man. Kaddour-Cherif was subsequently arrested in Blackhorse Lane, Islington.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed his capture, ending the multi-day operation to locate him. The arrest highlights the critical role community vigilance plays in public safety.
Questions over prison procedures
This incident raises significant concerns about the procedures and protocols within the UK's prison system. The delay in notifying police about a dangerous individual being erroneously released into the community is likely to prompt an urgent internal review.
The case of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif underscores the potential consequences of administrative failures in the justice system and the importance of robust communication between prisons and law enforcement agencies.
