Prisoner's 13-word remark as he handed himself in after being freed from jail by mistake

A prisoner who had been mistakenly released from a London jail on Monday has been detained by police officers today. William “Billy” Smith, 35, handed himself in on Thursday after a manhunt was launched by Sussex Police on Wednesday. The Mirror reports he was heard saying upon arriving to the prison: "I'm the prisoner they are looking for. I’m about to hand myself in". He was photographed wearing a blue Nike tracksuit shortly after 10.30am this morning, as he stood outside HMP Wandsworth. 

In one image, he was spotted smoking a cigarette moments before walking through the doors of the Category B men's prison in south-west London. Smith was sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, November 3 - the same day he was freed. He had 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 previously 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 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.