BREAKING Second prisoner launched by mistake as one other manhunt launched
A second prisoner was wrongly released from a jail where an Algerian sex offender was accidently freed, it has emerged. William Smith, 35, is being hunted by Surrey Police, who say he was let out of HMP Wandsworth in error on Monday.
It comes after the under-fire prison was revealed to have wrongly released Brahim Kaddour Cherif, 24, last Wednesday. The force said Smith, who goes by the name Billy, appeared in court via video link from the prison before being released.
A spokesman said: “We are appealing for help in finding 35-year-old William Smith, who goes by the name Billy, after he was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Monday (3 November).
(Image: Getty Images)
“We are carrying out a number of enquiries at pace to try and locate him. Smith was sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday (3 November), during which he appeared via a live video link from HMP Wandsworth.
“He is described as White, bald, and clean shaven. Smith was last seen wearing a navy long sleeve jumper with the Nike brand ‘tick’ across the front in white, navy blue tracksuit bottoms with a Nike ‘tick’ in white on the left pocket, and black trainers.
“Smith has links to Woking but could be anywhere in Surrey. If you have seen Billy, or have any information which could help us find him.”
(Image: Met Police)
They are now the second force to launch a manhunt for an inmate wrongly released from the prison in South-West London. The Met Police confirmed on Wednesday it was looking to find Cherif.
A Met spokesman said: “He is also known to use other variations of his name, including Ibrahim. He is believed to have links to Tower Hamlets and is also known to frequent the Westminster area. We are aware of reporting that Cherif is a registered sex offender and can confirm that is accurate.”
Commander Paul Trevers, who is overseeing the investigation, said: “It is just over 24 hours since we were informed of Cherif’s release. We launched an immediate manhunt and urgent enquiries have been ongoing since.
(Image: Met Police)
“Cherif has had a six-day head start but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts. We will continue to use all the means at our disposal but we are also appealing for the public’s help to find him.
“We have seen in the very recent past how important alert members of the public reporting sightings can be. To assist with that effort we have released an image of Cherif and bodyworn video footage from an arrest in September this year.”
The fiasco comes after a two-day manhunt was sparked when sex offender Hadush Kebatu was accidentally released from HMP Chelmsford after being locked up for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
He was meant to be transferred to an immigration removal centre but was instead set free and was was seen strolling through the Essex town and later London before being arrested in Finsbury Park. He has now been deported.
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