Mistakenly released UK prisoner turns himself in as search continues for second convict

Published on 06/11/2025 - 19:36 GMT+1

One of 2 inmates who were mistakenly released early from a London situation surrendered connected Thursday aft waving to reporters and smoking a cigaret connected nan steps of nan Victorian-era jail.

Billy Smith, 35, turned himself successful to HMP Wandsworth 3 days aft he was released successful nan latest administrative blunder to attraction attention connected an overcrowded and overwhelmed situation strategy that has go a governmental liability for nan Labour government.

Prison chiefs were summoned to a gathering connected Thursday to talk nan errors and efforts were being made to update a strategy that still uses insubstantial situation records, Justice curate Alex Davies-Jones said.

Smith, 35, was accidentally freed connected Monday, nan aforesaid time he was sentenced to astir 4 years successful situation for aggregate frauds.

Police were still searching for Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, who was mistakenly released from Wandsworth connected 29 October and was serving clip for trespass pinch intent to bargain and is simply a registered activity offender pinch an indecent vulnerability conviction.

Cherif, an Algerian national, entered nan UK legally successful 2019 but had overstayed and was successful nan first stages of nan deportation process.

Both men were wrongly freed from Wandsworth Prison which was nether scrutiny aft different captive flight 2 years agone by clinging to nan underside of a nutrient transportation truck.

The inadvertent releases followed much stringent controls that were expected to beryllium successful spot aft an asylum-seeker who inspired a emergence of anti-immigrant protests was mistakenly freed from Chelmsford Prison, eastbound of London, connected 24 October.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been sentenced to 12 months successful situation for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, was captured aft a two-day hunt and quickly deported to his location state Ethiopia.

After nan Kebatu search, nan authorities announced stronger information checks successful prisons and launched an independent investigation into nan blunder that has caused further embarrassment for nan Prison Service.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who is besides nan justness minister, said he was "absolutely outraged" and sought to blasted nan problems facing nan situation strategy connected nan erstwhile Conservative government.

According to authorities figures, 262 prisoners were released successful correction successful nan twelvemonth ending March 2025, a 128% summation connected nan erstwhile 12-month period.

Conservative spokespeople said nan Labour authorities has to return nan blasted arsenic nan crisp summation successful nan numbers is straight linked pinch its determination to merchandise immoderate prisoners earlier to guarantee prisons don't transcend capacity.