Sex Offender Released by Mistake Found and Arrested
A large-scale manhunt was launched after sex offender Brahim Kaddour Cherif was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth prison. Cherif, 24, was tracked down and arrested by the Metropolitan Police.
Incident Details
Cherif was convicted in November 2024 of indecent exposure linked to an incident from March of the same year, according to the Daily Star. He received an 18-month community order and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
Police Search and Arrest
The Metropolitan Police were notified of Cherif's erroneous release on Tuesday and deployed officers to find him. Authorities noted he is an Algerian national with known connections to Tower Hamlets and frequent visits to the Westminster area.
"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.
"He was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker in relation to a previous unrelated incident."
The police swiftly acted on the public tip-off, leading to his capture less than ten minutes after the sighting report.
Summary
Brahim Kaddour Cherif’s accidental prison release triggered rapid police action, resulting in his quick recapture and additional assault-related arrest.
Author's summary: A mistakenly released sex offender was swiftly located and detained by police following public help, underscoring the effectiveness of community vigilance.