In early 2026, the Offender Database confirmed that Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, of Whitechapel, London, Greater London, pleaded guilty to burglary and carrying a knife at Snaresbrook and Kingston Crown Courts. Kaddour-Cherif, an Algerian national who has overstayed his visa since 2020, was already a registered sex offender following a 2024 conviction for indecent exposure in a London park. His recent legal proceedings follow a high-profile “accidental release” from HMP Wandsworth in late 2025, which sparked a national manhunt before his eventual recapture in Finsbury Park.
The court heard that Kaddour-Cherif broke into a garage in Orford Road, Walthamstow, Greater London, in January 2024 to steal bicycles. Additionally, he admitted to possessing a knife in Burntwood Road, Earlswood, Surrey, in November 2023. These offences were committed while he was navigating various stages of the immigration and justice systems, including a period where he missed a court hearing while on bail. The blunder of his release from custody was highlighted as part of a significant increase in “release in error” statistics within the UK prison system.
Kaddour-Cherif’s previous sex offence conviction resulted in an 18-month community order and his placement on the Sex Offenders Register for five years. For his most recent crimes of burglary and possession of a knife, Judge Simon Heptonstall remanded him in custody at HMP Pentonville, with a formal sentencing date set for January 27, 2026. Given his status as an illegal migrant and a repeat offender, the sentencing is expected to include a custodial term. It will likely trigger automatic deportation proceedings upon completion of his jail time.
As a registered sex offender, Kaddour-Cherif remains subject to strict notification requirements, which he has previously failed to comply with by absconding. He is managed by the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). These official monitoring protocols are designed to track his movements and residency, ensuring that any future breaches of his bail or sex offender registration result in immediate detention, thereby mitigating the risk he poses to the public in East and South-West London.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.