Wandsworth manhunt latest: Search on for two prisoners freed by mistake - and reason for latest error revealed

As the hunt continues for two prisoners missing from HMP Wandsworth in London, police have revealed they are investigating a death at a prison in Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Police say they're investigating the death of prisoner Kyle Bevan at HMP Wakefield.

In 2023, Kyle Bevan, 31, was given a life sentence for murdering Lola James, the two-year-old daughter of his partner, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, with a minimum term of 28 years.

A Prison Service spokesperson said:

"HMP Wakefield prisoner Kyle Bevan's death was confirmed on 5 November.

"We are unable to comment further while the police investigate."

West Yorkshire Police added in its own statement: 

"At 8.25 this morning, officers were called to HMP Wakefield on Love Lane, Wakefield, to reports of a death of a prisoner in his cell. 

"Investigations into the man’s death are in their early stages and enquiries are being carried out."

Searches continue for Brahim Kaddour-Cherif and William Smith, the two prisoners recently released in error by Wandsworth prison.

And, don't forget, there was also the high-profile escape of former British soldier Daniel Khalife, who sparked a nationwide manhunt after clinging to the underside of a food delivery lorry to break out of the Category B jail on 6 September last year.

But last month Paste BN took an in-depth look at another problem facing prisons - drones.

Some security experts fear they could even be strong enough to help prisoners escape in the not-too-distant future.

But they're already a security risk, delivering drugs and other contraband to inmates. 

Home news correspondent Mollie Malone's report includes shocking footage from outside Wandsworth Prison - watch below...

...and you can also read her full report.

Sir Robert Buckland, a former justice secretary, tells our chief presenter Mark Austin that David Lammy has some explaining to do.

He says the sitting justice secretary should have explained to Parliament that there was an unfolding situation and he didn't want to preempt the Met Police.

Watch his interview here...

"We are ready to be held to account on our actions."

That's what schools minister Georgia Gould tells our Politics Hub.

She insists the issue of releasing foreign sex offenders like Brahim Kaddour-Cherif is being investigated and claims Labour inherited a "broken system" from the Conservatives - something we heard previously.

Gould also repeats the claim from the government that they could not say anything before the Met Police had released their announcement that Kaddour-Cherif had gone AWOL.

"It's really important that we always follow due process," she said.

Asked if Lammy should go back to the Commons and apologise, Gould says she is sure Parliament will "discuss" the matter.

The prisoner released mistakenly from HMP Wandsworth on Monday was let out following a sentence mistake by the court, Paste BN understands.

William 'Billy' Smith had been sentenced to 45 months behind bars for multiple fraud offences at court on Monday, having appeared via a video link from HMP Wandsworth.

However, he was set free after the court mistakenly told the prison that his custodial sentence was instead a suspended one.

A correction was sent from the court to the prison, but it went to the wrong person.

It was not received in time to stop him from leaving.

More political reaction to bring you now.

Labour MP for Tooting, where HMP Wandsworth is located, Rosena Allin-Khan MP says:

"I'm horrified to learn that someone was mistakenly released from Wandsworth Prison with such a shocking list of offences. Local residents will quite rightly be deeply concerned. We urgently need answers from the Government and Ministry of Justice as to how this was allowed to happen."

She also wrote to the justice and home secretaries, asking the following:

• What reassurances can you give to local residents in my community that Wandsworth Prison remains fit for purpose following these major security failures? 
• Furthermore, can you explain why it took almost a week for the Metropolitan Police to be made aware of this, and how many days did it take the Ministry of Justice to find out he was released incorrectly?
• As Home Secretary, due to the fact that he has been at large for over a week, can guarantees be made that every possible lever is being used inside the Home Office to ensure his prompt return to custody? 
• Moreover, can you clarify what risk he currently poses to the public and issue safety guidance accordingly?
• Finally, what extra resources will be made available locally to reassure my community?

It's not the first time mistakes at HMP Wandsworth have made the headlines.

Back in February, a man in his 20s was jailed for 14 years and three months after his high-profile escape from the prison in south London.

Daniel Khalife, a former British soldier, sparked a nationwide manhunt after clinging to the underside of a food delivery lorry to break out of the Category B jail on 6 September last year.

Khalife went on the run while awaiting trial for spying for Iran.

He evaded capture for three days before he was spotted riding a stolen mountain bike along the canal towpath in Northolt, west London - about 14 miles away.

Tap below to read more and remind yourself of the story...

Our national correspondent Tom Parmenter says the accidental release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif is an "embarrassing situation for the government and prison authorities".

Reporting from outside HMP Wandsworth, the prison from which he was mistakenly released, Parmenter says that the police face an uphill battle with Kaddour-Cherif having a six-day headstart.

He also points out that there has still been no coherent explanation as to why the Met were so belatedly informed of the incident.

Watch his latest report here...

We've now received this image of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, who was freed from prison by mistake.

A manhunt is ongoing.

Here's what else the police have said:

• Kaddour-Cherif is an Algerian national and the Met Police was informed of his release shortly after 1pm yesterday
  
• Officers were deployed immediately to begin the search - facing Kaddour-Cherif with a six-day headstart
  
• He uses other variations of his name, including Ibrahim
• Kaddour-Cherif is a registered sex offender and was convicted in November 2024 of indecent exposure linked to an incident in March of the same year
• He was sentenced to an 18-month community order
• Kaddour-Cherif has links to the Tower Hamlets area, but is also known to frequent the Westminster area

Commander Paul Trevers, who is overseeing the investigation, says: "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.

"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."

Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, the 24-year-old foreign offender who was released from HMP Wandsworth by mistake, entered the UK legally in 2019, Paste BN understands.

He came into the country in 2019 on a visit visa, but overstayed and an immigration case was started against him.

Paste BN understands the deportation proceedings had started against Kaddour-Cherif.