How could this happen... again?

'Failing system' blast as 2nd asylum seeker wrongly freed

- BY SOPHIE HUSKISSON, DAVE BURKE and TOM PETTIFOR

A SECOND asylum seeker has been wrongly released - just days after a paedophile was mistakenly set free.

Sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif walked free from London's Wandsworth jail and, like Hadush Kebatu, the blunder came during the deportation process.

Algerian national Kaddour-Cherif was mistakenly freed last week, just like Kebatu, who has now been sent back to Ethiopia. The Metropolitan Police was not told of the error over Kaddour-Cherif for six days.

Meanwhile another con, fraudster William Smith, also walked out of Wandsorth despite being sentenced to 45 months after he was confused with a co-defendant who has the same surname.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy was grilled about the double gaffe when he stood in for Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday.

He accused the Tories of "criminal negligence of the justice system during their 14 years in power.

Lammy said: "I am absolutely outraged and appalled by the mistaken release of a foreign criminal wanted by the police.

"The Metropolitan Police is leading an urgent manhunt and my officials have been working through the night to take him back to prison.

"Victims deserve better and the public deserve answers.