Police are looking for a second prisoner who has been released by mistake from HMP Wandsworth. In a statement, Surrey Police said William Smith, who goes by the name Billy, had been let out of jail in error on Monday, November 3.
The appeal, released on Wednesday, read: “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). 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.”
Police have asked people with information which could help the force find the man to contact them quoting SYP-20251105-0472 via either their 24/7 live chat service on www.surrey.police.uk, their Facebook page or 101.
This comes just hours after it emerged the Metropolitan Police are searching for a prisoner, who has been named by sources as Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, had been freed by mistake on October 29.
A Met spokesperson said: “Shortly after 1300hrs on Tuesday November 4, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday October 29. The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.
“Officers are carrying out urgent inquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.”
