Prisoner 'hands himself in' 3 days after being mistakenly freed from jail

A prisoner who had been mistakenly released from a London jail on Monday has been detailed by police officers. William "Billy" Smith, 35, was detained by police after being wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth three days ago.

The inmatehanded himself in after a manhunt was launched by the force. He was seen wearing a blue Nike tracksuit shortly after 10.30am this morning. In one image he was spotted smoking a cigarette moments before walking through the doors of the Category B men's prison in south-wesst London.

Billy was sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, Novembr 3 - the same day he was freed. He appeared via a live video link from HMP Wandsworth.

It is believed the error was made after his sentence was mixed up with another prisoner with the same surname.

In a statement the force 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, 3 November.

"Smith handed himself in to HMP Wandsworth today."

Surrey Police said in a statement that William Smith, who goes by the name Billy, had been let out of jail in error on Monday.

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 (November 3). We are carrying out a number of enquiries at pace to try and locate him.

"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."

Meanwhile, a desperate manhunt for sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif continues - a second prisoner who has been released by mistake from HMP Wandsworth.

The 24-year-old Algerian man was released in error from the prison on October 29 and is still at large.

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."

The incident happened just five days after a high-profile accidental release of sex offender Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford.

Migrant Kebatu was wrongly freed instead of being transferred to an immigration removal centre.