A convicted sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison last year has been jailed for attacking two Metropolitan Police officers at a London Underground station.
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, an Algerian asylum seeker, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison after admitting punching and biting officers at Blackhorse Road Tube station in east London on 20 July.
The court heard that PC Bradley Glynn, who was off duty at the time, noticed Kaddour-Cherif stealing a mobile phone from a sleeping passenger. He recovered the device and returned it to its owner before ordering the suspect to leave the train.
After exiting the train, Kaddour-Cherif remained on the platform, prompting PC Glynn to shout “thief” in an attempt to draw attention and deter him. Prosecutors said Kaddour-Cherif then punched the officer in the head with a closed fist.
PC Jason Norton, who was on duty at the station, intervened to assist his colleague. During the struggle, Kaddour-Cherif continued to throw punches and bit PC Glynn. He also slammed PC Norton against a wall and bit his arm.
Photographs presented to the court showed visible bite marks. PC Norton said he feared he may have contracted an illness as a result of the attack.
Kaddour-Cherif pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting emergency workers. He claimed he did not know the men were police officers at the time of the incident.
Magistrate Elizabeth Robb described the assaults as “serious, prolonged and nasty” and ordered him to pay £154 in compensation to the officers.
Kaddour-Cherif made national headlines in November after being wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth despite having multiple active criminal cases and a court order to remain in custody.
At the time of his release, he was under investigation for several offences. He had previously been convicted in 2024 for exposing himself in a London park.
He is currently being held in Home Office custody and is expected to be questioned further about his asylum status. He is also due to stand trial next month on a charge of handling stolen goods.