Prisoner mistakenly released from south London jail arrested
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth more than a week ago
Last updated 7th Nov 2025
Police have arrested a foreign prisoner who was mistakenly released from jail more than a week ago, bringing the manhunt to an end.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed Algerian national Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, has been arrested after he was spotted by a member of the public in Islington, north London, just before 11.30am on Friday.
"Officers responded immediately and he was arrested," the force said on X.
Kaddour-Cherif was accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth in London on October 29, but police were only informed of the mistake on Tuesday, prompting the search.
He was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal, but had previously been convicted for indecent exposure.
The Met say 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 incident.
He has been taken into police custody. The Prison Service has been informed.
Another prisoner, Billy Smith, 35, who was also accidentally freed from the same prison on Monday, has handed himself back in.