US EditionManhunt for prisoner who 'absconded' after being freed from HMP Wandsworth for brother's wedding
Sean Middlebrough, granted bail to attend a wedding, is now sought by police amid a 128% rise in mistaken prisoner releases at HMP Wandsworth, officials said.
- Police are hunting Sean Middlebrough, 32, Palestine Action protester, after he failed to return to HMP Wandsworth; officers said they are working urgently to recapture him.
- He was being held on remand and a judge granted him bail to attend a brother's wedding; Middlebrough faces charges linked to an alleged activist plot to disrupt the London Stock Exchange.
- Official figures show 262 wrongful-release instances between March 2024 and March 2025, a 128% rise, including Brahim Kaddour-Cherif freed on 29 October and William Smith released on 3 November.
- Justice Secretary David Lammy has appointed a senior official `to make sure we really grip this`, while a government spokesperson stressed that `court decisions are made by judges- independently of government` and warned absconding is a serious offence.
- Political scrutiny has intensified as more inmates remain unaccounted for across recent mistakes, with at least four prisoners still at large after releases from Wandsworth drawing criticism at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.
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The Independent
The Independent (US)Manhunt for prisoner who absconded after being freed for brother’s wedding
The government has warned that Sean Middlebrough may face a longer sentence after he absconded
Palestine Action protester on the run from prison after 'being freed for wedding' in latest jail fiasco
Police have launched an urgent search for a Palestine Action protester who remains on the run from prison after being granted temporary release for his brother's wedding
Police searching for Palestine Action prisoner who absconded after being freed from prison for brother’s wedding – UK Times
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails A Palestine Action protester has failed to return to Wandsworth prison after he was temporarily freed to go to his brother’s wedding. Sean Middlebrough was being held on remand at HMP Wandsworth when he was granted bail by a judge to attend the wedding. Police ar…
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