PRESSURE was yesterday piled on Deputy PM David “calamity” Lammy over the mistaken jail release of yet another illegal migrant sex offender.
Mr Lammy bungled his way through a day of chaos that initially saw him refuse five times to even acknowledge a second wrongly-freed foreign prisoner was at large.
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David Lammy at the beginning of Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, without a poppyCredit: PA
Lammy then appeared to borrow a poppy from a backbencherCredit: PA
Brahim Kaddour Cherif was due to be deported last Wednesday but was accidentally let out of HMP WandsworthCredit: Met Police
Kaddour-Cherif in police bodycam footage from his arrest on September 9th
Algerian Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, was due to be deported last Wednesday but was accidentally let out of HMP Wandsworth in South London.
Last night he was still on the run.
Yesterday it also emerged the same jail had mistakenly released a convicted fraudster on Monday — the same day he was sentenced.
It comes just weeks after the hunt for wrongly-freed migrant sex attacker Hadush Kebatu.
Justice Secretary Mr Lammy had previously boasted of having implemented the “strongest checks ever” on prison releases.
But his Tory shadow minister Robert Jenrick insisted: “Calamity Lammy is presiding over a clown show.
“It’s been one farce after another under him.
“There’s never been a better time to be a criminal.
“Instead of dealing with spiralling numbers of accidental releases, he’s tried to cover them up and deflect.”
Mr Lammy’s car-crash afternoon came as he was ambushed by the Tories when he stood in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons..
Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge, filling in for leader Kemi Badenoch, was told 15 minutes beforehand about Kaddour-Cherif’s release.
He then pressed Mr Lammy five times on whether he was aware of any asylum seekers who had also been mistakenly freed — following Ethiopian Kebatu’s accidental release from HMP Chelmsford.
Mr Lammy ducked the questions and instead attacked the Tories over their record in government.
But within minutes of PMQs ending, news of Kaddour-Cherif’s release sent MPs into meltdown.
Tories and Lib Dems demanded he return to the chamber to come clean about the police hunt.
Allies said Mr Lammy became aware of the release overnight but thought it inappropriate to comment ahead of a police statement.
They also said Mr Cartlidge had asked for details of an “asylum seeker” whereas Kaddour-Cherif had arrived here legally but then overstayed his visa.
Ms Badenoch blasted: “This is a shambles of a government.
Hadush Kebatu was wrongly freed last monthCredit: PA
HMP Wandsworth also mistakenly released convicted fraudster Billy Smith on MondayCredit: Surrey Police
“He promised the ‘strongest ever checks’ but we’ve had two shambolic releases in the same week.
“How on earth can the public have confidence in Lammy to keep doing his job?”
And Reform UK chief Nigel Farage reckoned: “Another dangerous criminal is on the loose thanks to Labour. What a total farce.”
Scotland Yard confirmed that Kaddour-Cherif, sentenced last November to an 18-month community order for indecent exposure, was released last Wednesday but the Met only told on Tuesday lunchtime.
Kaddour-Cherif, of Shadwell, East London, was captured on police bodycam being arrested in September for failing to appear in court and breaching his sex offender register conditions.
Commander Paul Trevers said: “It is just over 24 hours since we were informed of Cherif’s release.
“We launched an immediate manhunt.
“Cherif has had a six-day head start but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts.”
Mr Lammy said in a statement after PMQs that he was “outraged and appalled” about the latest prison farce.
Meanwhile, HMP Wandsworth also admitted convicted fraudster Billy Smith, 35, of Woking, Surrey, was freed by accident on Monday — the same day he was sentenced.
THE migrant who snuck back into Britain just weeks after being kicked out under the one in, one out returns deal with France has been removed once again.
The Iranian man was first sent to France in September but returned on October 18 on another dinghy.
He was identified through biometrics and detained.
HOW DISASTERS HIT GOVERNMENT
Wednesday, October 29: Algerian Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, is freed by accident from HMP Wandsworth.
Tuesday, November 4, 1pm: The Met Police is informed by the Prison Service that he is on the loose.
Overnight: Justice Secretary David Lammy is informed.
Wednesday, November 5, 11.45am: Tory MPs find out a wrongly released prisoner is at large.
Noon: Mr Lammy refuses to answer five times at PMQs if any asylum seeker prisoners have recently been released by mistake.
12.15pm: Mr Lammy takes a poppy badge from MP Calvin Bailey after starting PMQs without one.
Approx 12.45pm: No10 is unable to say what the Justice Secretary knew about any freed prisoners, or when.
1.40pm: Mr Lammy releases a statement saying he is “absolutely outraged” by the mistaken release of a foreign criminal.
4pm: Surrey Police announces another prisoner has accidentally been freed from HMP Wandsworth.
William Smith, 35, was released on Monday after being sentenced.
DAVID Lammy stood in for Sir Keir Starmer yesterday at Prime Minister’s Questions — but forgot to wear a poppy.
Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake said the absence of the symbol of remembrance was a “disgrace”.
A Labour backbencher gave up his badge for the Deputy PM to wear at the despatch box.
By Sophia Sleigh
4-STAR YOB FLIT
A MIGRANT living in a four-star asylum hotel has gone on the run after being convicted of smashing up a posh shopping centre.
Momen Mousa, 29, housed in the most controversial taxpayer-funded accommodation in Britain at Canary Wharf, targeted a glass turnstile on September 30, causing £5,000 in damage.
Police swooped at the Britannia International Hotel to arrest him.
He pleaded guilty to criminal damage on October 2 at Thames magistrates’ but failed to show up for sentencing on November 4.
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Rooms at the Britannia have been rented by Home Office chiefs since July.
A source said: “This is a ridiculous situation where an asylum seeker has refused to go to court to face sentencing.”