Palestine Action activist fails to return to prison as police launch manhunt

A nationwide manhunt is underway for Sean Middlebrough, a 32-year-old Palestine Action activist from Liverpool, who failed to return to HMP Wandsworth following a judge-approved temporary release to attend his brother's wedding over the weekend. The father-of-one, held on remand since January this year, faces charges of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance over an alleged plot by environmental protesters to chain themselves to the London Stock Exchange and disrupt trading in January.

The action targeted shares in Elbit Systems UK, Israel's largest arms manufacturer, amid accusations of complicity in the Gaza conflict. Middlebrough was granted four days' escorted bail by an Old Bailey judge last Friday but failed to report back by Sunday evening, triggering a police alert on Monday morning. Described as white, around 5ft 10in tall, of slim build, with short brown hair and possible stubble, he was last seen wearing a black hoodie, jeans and trainers.

He has links to Merseyside. The Metropolitan Police have urged the public not to approach him but dial 101 with information.

A government spokesperson said: "Court bail decisions are made by judges - independently of government. Absconding is a serious criminal offence, and any defendant who commits this crime could face longer behind bars.

"The police are working urgently to recapture this individual, and we urge anyone with information to go to the police."

The case spotlights turmoil in England's prisons, where overcrowding and antiquated systems have led to a surge in release failures. Ministry of Justice data shows 262 erroneous releases in the year to March 2025 - a 128% rise from 115 the previous year - including 87 violent offenders.

Absconds totalled 57 in the same period. HMP Wandsworth, a Victorian-era jail operating at near-full capacity with chronic understaffing, has been epicentre of recent scandals.

Just last week, Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, convicted of theft and indecent exposure, was wrongly freed on October 29 and recaptured on November 7 after a nine-day hunt. Fraudster William Smith, 35, was mistakenly released on November 3 before surrendering two days later.

At least four inmates remain at large from earlier errors, including two from 2024 and two from June 2025. Justice Secretary David Lammy said: "We inherited a prison system in crisis and I'm appalled at the rate of releases in error this is causing. That's why I've ordered tough new release checks, launched an investigation, and started overhauling archaic prison systems."

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the trend as "completely unacceptable", noting wrongful releases had risen from an average of 17 under the previous government to 22 now. She added: "Even one is too many, and the justice secretary is gripping this by appointing Dame Lynne Owens... to make sure that we really grip this, starting with the antiquated paper-based system that was developed in the 1980s."

Former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson warned: "This latest embarrassment shows a criminal justice system in disarray. It will leave the public in no doubt that we can't control the risk of offenders and those accused either side of the prison walls."

Middlebrough's absconding echoes other high-profile failures. In October, a convicted robber evaded capture for 48 hours after fleeing a hospital visit from HMP Berwyn. Six inmates vanished from open prison HMP Spring Hill over summer, with mixed recapture rates.

Palestine Action, proscribed as a terrorist group in July, insists the charges are politically motivated. Middlebrough previously told Declassified UK: "I have 23 other co-defendants in prison, so if I have to go back and I have to engage in a hunger strike in solidarity with them... that is what I am going to do."

As searches intensify in Liverpool and London, authorities face calls for reform amid projections of 97,300 inmates by 2027. Prisons stand at 88% capacity, with experts fearing more breaches without urgent investment.