Prisoner freed by mistake in March 2024 is still at large – one of four released in error who have stayed on the run in fresh humiliation for David Lammy
A prisoner who was mistakenly released in March 2024 is reportedly still at large more than a year later.
The prisoner is one of four men allegedly still on the run from police after being accidentally released. A second prisoner was released in 2024, along with two other prisoners in June this year.
A fifth prisoner, Nigerian national Ola Abimbola, remains at large after allegedly leaving HMP Ford open prison on 10 October.
Sussex Police are working with partners to catch the 36-year-old, who is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for offenses including kidnapping, GBH and possession of an offensive weapon in public.
It represents a fresh humiliation for Justice Secretary David Lammy, who last night said he was “appalled by the rate of people being released by mistake”.
Mr Lammy has been facing mounting backlash in recent days over a series of inaccurate statements, one of which he failed to explain during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was finally re-arrested on Friday after being mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth nine days ago, sparking a massive police manhunt.
The 24-year-old, who was serving a sentence for trespassing with intent to steal and had previously been convicted of indecent exposure, was trapped by the police following a tip-off from a member of the public.
He was detained by officers in Finsbury Park, the same area where sex offender Hadush Kebatu was arrested after another mistake led to his mistaken release two weeks ago.
David Lammy (pictured) faces fresh humiliation after it was revealed a prisoner who was mistakenly released in March 2024 is still at large
Foreign national Ola Abimbola escaped from HMP Ford open prison on October 16 and has not been seen since.
Sussex Police have released this CCTV footage of Abimbola allegedly leaving prison last month
The Ethiopian national was jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman, but was mistakenly released on October 24 instead of being sent to an immigration detention center.
He was later tracked down and deported after a three-day manhunt.
Another prisoner, Billy Smith, 35, also handed himself back in after being accidentally released from Wandsworth on Monday.
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the mistaken releases revealed the ‘incompetence of this government’ and called on Mr Lammy to ‘be upfront about how many prisoners were accidentally released and how many are still at large’.
Home Secretary Chris Philp added last night: ‘Fifty specialist police were needed to catch him’ [Kaddour-Cherif] To prevent David Lammy from blushing.
‘Mr Lammy has lost control of the justice system and is too much of a coward to explain himself.’
Liberal Democrat spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller said ‘every resource’ should be spent on finding prisoners.
‘This is a disgrace, a disgrace. He told the BBC that the media should not need to inform the public about prisoners being released after they were accidentally released.
Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence at HMP Wandsworth for trespass with intent to steal. Has a past conviction for indecent exposure
Kaddour-Cherif was filmed being arrested by Met Police officers in Finsbury Park, north London, on Friday.
Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford just two weeks before Kaddour-Cherif was wrongfully released
The moment Kebatu (second from left) was arrested by Met Police officers in Finsbury Park, north London
Abimbola is not the only prisoner to escape in recent months.
Days after his escape, Thames Valley Police say a ‘ruthless’ East London drug dealer has escaped from HMP Spring Hill in Buckinghamshire.
Osei Kuffour, 36, was jailed for 25 years for attempted murder after he shot a woman in the face after failing to return to a category D prison in October.
He was arrested by police the next day after warning the public not to approach him.
Another prisoner, Anton Newell, 36, originally from Isleworth, Middlesex, escaped from the same open prison in June and remains at large.
Investigating officers, Detective Sergeant Matthew French, said: ‘We are appealing for the public’s help in tracing Newell. We strongly advise our citizens not to approach him and to call 999 if they see him.
‘If you have any information on his whereabouts please call 101 quoting reference 43250369549.’
