TL;DR
- William “Billy” Smith, wrongfully released from HMP Wandsworth, has surrendered to authorities following a three-day manhunt; his release was the result of a court error regarding his sentence.
- The search continues for Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, another prisoner mistakenly freed, who remains at large in London.
- Justice Secretary David Lammy acknowledged the increase in mistaken releases, asserting the need for modernising prison record systems to prevent future errors.
One of two prisoners mistakenly released hands himself in | UK News
One of the two prisoners mistakenly freed from HMP Wandsworth has handed himself in.
William “Billy” Smith, 35, was wrongly freed from the prison earlier this week but, after a three-day manhunt, Surrey Police has confirmed he handed himself in on Thursday.
Meanwhile the search for sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif continues. He was also mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth on 29 October.
Smith was sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, but was mistakenly released later the same day.
Sky News understands that his release came about because of a court error, telling the prison his custodial sentence was a suspended one instead.
A correction was initially sent to the wrong person and by the time it got to the right place he had left.
Surrey Police said: “We are cancelling our appeal to help find wanted 35-year-old William Smith who was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Monday, November 3. Smith handed himself in to HMP Wandsworth today.”
Smith seen waving and smiling
He was filmed returning to the prison by ITV News. Footage showed Smith waving and smiling as he approached the prison’s entrance, where he then spoke to staff.
Justice Secretary David Lammy, who came under fire while standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs, posted a response on X: “William Smith is back in custody. The spike in mistaken releases is unacceptable.
“We’re modernising prison systems – replacing paper with digital tools to cut errors. We’re working with police to recapture Brahim Kaddour-Cherif.”
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said prison chiefs were being summoned for a meeting on Thursday and a team of digital experts had been tasked with overhauling the “archaic” paper-based system of prisoner records.
The Prison Governors Association (PGA) described releases in error as “neither rare nor hidden”, but said the scale of them was “deeply concerning”.
In total, 262 prisoners were released in error in the year leading up to March 2025.
Prison hunt second prisoner
The Metropolitan Police has continued to appeal to the public over the whereabouts of Kaddour-Cherif, 24, who the force believes is still in London just over a week after his release.
“He is believed to be in London and has links to Tower Hamlets and Westminster. If you see him, please call 999 immediately,” the Met said on social media.
The Algerian national was in the process of being deported after he overstayed his visa. It is understood he is not an asylum seeker.
He was serving a sentence at Wandsworth for trespass with intent to steal, but had previously also been convicted for indecent exposure.
His release came just five days after the high-profile release of migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford in Essex.