Escaped Prisoner Returns to Prison After Being Released by Mistake
William Smith, 35, known as Billy, voluntarily surrendered three days after staff at HMP Wandsworth mistakenly released him. He was seen having a cigarette before being escorted back inside the prison.
Incident Details
Smith, a convicted fraudster, returned to the prison wearing a blue Nike tracksuit shortly after 10:30 AM, arriving in a flatbed truck. On Monday, a large manhunt began after he was mistakenly freed just hours after being sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offenses.
He had appeared at Croydon Crown Court via a live video link from the prison but was later released in error.
Return to Custody
Photos show Smith surrounded by prison officers when he handed himself back in. Before surrendering, he hugged a woman crying in the van that brought him back.
“I’m the prisoner they’re looking for. I’m about to hand myself in.”
He identified himself at the prison entrance, smoked a cigarette outside while two officers stood nearby, and appeared to have a brief dispute with one before finishing his cigarette and being taken back inside.
An eyewitness said,
“It looked like there was some confusion at first about who he was and what he was there for.”
Summary
Billy Smith's voluntary return ended a police manhunt triggered by an administrative error that allowed his release shortly after sentencing for fraud.
Author's summary: This case highlights the serious consequences of prison release errors, as the inmate chose to surrender after mistakenly being freed, prompting a police search.