Police have launched an appeal to find a burglar who is on the run after being wrongly released from prison five months ago. William Wenham, 47, was serving a two-year sentence and waiting to face trial for an offence of aggravated burglary when he was “released in error” from HMP Rochester on June 3, Sussex Police said. 

It comes as Labour and Justice Secretary David Lammy come under mounting pressure over the issue of mistaken releases. Figures released by the Ministry of Justice earlier this week showed a total of 91 prisoners were freed by mistake between April 1 and October 31 this year. On Friday, police issued an appeal to find Wenham who is said to have links to Havant, Worthing, Brighton, Peterborough and the surrounding area.

He was convicted of burglary with intent to steal in his absence at Cambridge Crown Court on October 3, police added

The issue of mistaken releases from prison has come under the spotlight following the debacle that led to the freeing of migrant sex offender Habush Kebatu, whose initial arrest led to huge protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, where he had been staying.

The Ethiopian national was re-arrested after a three-day manhunt and has since been deported.

Stronger security checks were announced for prisons and an independent investigation was launched into releases in error following the blunder.

In an appeal to find Wenham, Sussex Police said: “We’re searching for William Wenham, who is wanted for being unlawfully at large.

“The 47-year-old was serving a two-year sentence and waiting to face trial for an offence of aggravated burglary when he was released in error from HMP Rochester on Tuesday, 3 June.

“Wenham was convicted of burglary with intent to steal in his absence in Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, 3 October 2025.

“William has links to Havant, Worthing, Brighton, Peterborough, and the surrounding area.

“Anyone who sees him is asked to dial 999, quoting Op Equal.”

Mr Lammy has admitted there is a “mountain to climb” to tackle the issue of prisoners being released mistakenly. 

Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson has also said there is “no quick fix” to releases in error, adding it is “going to take time to get it right”.

He told Parliament on Thursday that the total number of inmates at large after being released in error stands at two.