Police launch hunt for remand prisoner awaiting sexual assault trial three days after he went missing when he was ACCIDENTALLY released by staff at HMP Wormwood Scrubs
- William Fernandez, 24, was being held on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs
- Staff told police he was accidentally released from the west London prison
- Fernandez was set free Wednesday and public is warned not to approach him
William Fernandez, 24, was being held on remand awaiting trial
Police tonight launched a desperate hunt for a remand prisoner who has gone missing after he was accidentally released by staff at HMP Wormwood Scrubs three days ago.
William Fernandez, 24, was being held on remand awaiting trial for sexual assault by touching, indecent exposure and possession of a class B drug.
Staff at the west London prison told police Fernandez was ‘released from custody in error’ on Wednesday – a year after he was first imprisoned.
Police have today released a photograph showing Fernandez at East Acton Station at the same day he was released in the hope it will help their search.
Officers were sent to the prison and carried out searches in the local area this week but lost him after he travelled by London Underground from East Acton station.
At 9.24pm Wednesday night he was spotted on CCTV walking along Wealdstone High Street, heading north, but there have been no confirmed sightings of him since.
Officers are now conducting ‘extensive enquiries’ to find him, including CCTV analysis and house to house enquiries at ‘several locations’.
Before his arrest last year, Fernandez had no fixed address but officers think he is most likely to still be in the west London area.
He has been known to travel on public transport and to spend time at transport hubs, they said.
Police have today released a photograph showing Fernandez at East Acton Station at the same day he was released in the hope it will help their search
Detective Inspector Rory Wilkinson, who is leading the search, said: ‘Officers are exploring every possible line of enquiry to track Fernandez down and return him to prison.
‘We would ask the public to assist us by being our eyes and ears and calling us if they see him or have any information about his whereabouts.’
Fernandez is white, of medium build, with thinning hair and a dark beard, police said.
He has a distinctive cross tattoo on the left hand side of his neck and, when last seen, he was wearing a black tracksuit and black hat.
He is also known to use the name Agustin Fernando Jimenez Eiberte.
If you see Fernandez or know where he is, please do not approach him. Call 999 immediately providing the reference 7873/24MAR.
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