An Algerian-born migrant named Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, aged 24, is currently wanted by police in the UK after being wrongly released from prison last week. He first came into the UK in 2019 on a six–month visit visa, but he stayed after his permission expired and did not return to his home country.
The Home Office had already marked him as a possible overstayer, but he was still allowed to remain in the country. Over the years, he has faced many court cases for different offences. Reports say he has appeared in court eight different times for crimes including carrying a knife, burglary, and handling stolen bank cards.
Kaddour-Cherif was also previously convicted of indecent exposure and assaulting a police officer. In just one year, there were more than 40 scheduled hearings connected to his cases. Some courts even issued warrants to arrest him, not knowing that he was already in prison at the time.
His recent mistaken release happened from HMP Wandsworth, the same prison where another migrant sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, was also wrongly freed earlier. The Metropolitan Police have now launched an urgent manhunt to find him, as he still has several trials pending, including a burglary case and another involving a knife in a public place.
In one incident, he was accused of burglary at the Royal Society of Literature office in Somerset House in September 2023. Another time, he was allegedly caught with a knife in November of the same year. He did not appear at later hearings, and he was also charged with handling stolen bank cards belonging to a woman in Lambeth in August 2024.
Despite several convictions, including an 18-month community order for exposure and a fine for assault, he was moved to Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre earlier this year. From there, he was unexpectedly released on immigration bail. Later, confusion in court paperwork led to him being set free again instead of being held for an upcoming trial.
Why is his release causing concern?
Because he has several unresolved criminal cases and was never supposed to be released. The mistake means he is now missing and could still commit offences while police try to find him.
The UK government has said it is launching an investigation to understand how these repeated release mistakes happened. The Deputy Prime Minister called the situation unacceptable and said new, stronger checks would now be enforced.