Algerian sex offender re-arrested nine days after being mistakenly released from prison

The Metropolitan Police said in an update on social media: “Officers have arrested Brahim Kaddour-Cherif who was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on October 29.

"Cherif was spotted by a member of the public in Blackhorse Lane, Islington just before 11.30am.

"Officers responded immediately and he was arrested."

Cherif arrived in the UK legally and is not an asylum seeker.

However, GB News understands he overstayed his visit visa and deportation proceedings had begun against him.

Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence at HMP Wandsworth for trespass with intent to steal, but had previously been convicted for indecent exposure.

At the time, he was given a community order and placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.

He was then subsequently jailed for possessing a knife in June.

Justice Secretary David Lammy said the Algerian national was mistakenly released before stronger new checks were implemented in the wake of the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu.

A spokesman from the Met Police said: "At 11.23am on Friday, November 7, 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.

"He has been taken into police custody. The Prison Service has been informed."

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy said: "I can confirm Brahim Kaddour-Cherif has been recaptured and is back in custody.

"My thanks are with the police and staff at HMPPS who have been working around the clock.

"We inherited a prison system in crisis and I'm appalled at the rate of releases in error this is causing.

"I’m determined to grip this problem, but there is a mountain to climb which cannot be done overnight.

"That is why I have ordered new tough release checks, commissioned an independent investigation into systemic failures, and begun overhauling archaic paper-based systems still used in some prisons."

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