Second Escaped Prisoner Arrested and Returned to Jail
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian convicted sex offender, has been recaptured and returned to HMP Wandsworth after nearly a week on the run. Police conducted a two-day manhunt following his accidental release from prison.
Details of the Release and Crimes
Kaddour-Cherif was mistakenly released by prison officials on October 29 due to an error in the computer system, which confused his custodial sentence for possessing a knife with a suspended sentence. Besides this, he is a registered sex offender and was convicted of indecent exposure on November 24, for which he received a community order and was placed on the sex offenders' registry for five years.
Capture and Arrest
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Kaddour-Cherif was spotted by a member of the public at Blackhorse Lane, Islington, just before 11:30 am. Officers swiftly responded and took him into custody.
"Officers have arrested Brahim Kaddour Cherif who was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on 29 October. Cherif was spotted by a member of the public in Blackhorse Lane, Islington just before 11.30am. Officers responded immediately and he was arrested."
Video footage of the arrest shows a police officer identifying Kaddour-Cherif by his "distinctive wonky nose," despite his denial, saying, "I am not Brahim."
Summary
The arrest of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif highlights failures in prison procedures and the vigilant response of both the public and police in ensuring a dangerous offender was quickly returned to custody.