London (Parliament Politics Magazine)- Daniel Khalife, the ex-uk soldier accused of spying has confessed to escaping from London prison by hiding under a delivery truck.
The Ex-British soldier named Daniel Khalife, aged 23 at his trial at London’s Woolwich Crown Court on Monday pleaded guilty.
He was accused of using a sling made from trousers in the prison kitchen, he tied himself to the underside of a catering truck.
Khalife has denied accusations of violating Britain’s official secrets act by obtaining information for Iran as well as committing offences under the Terrorism Act and planting fake bombs at a military facility.
While waiting for trial, Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison in September 2023 by using a sling made from trousers in the prison kitchen to secure himself under a catering truck. He was arrested cycling three days later on a canal towpath in west London after a nationwide search operation against him which included helicopter patrols and full security checks at transport locations.Â
Khalife told the judges, “I accept that I left the prison and I didn’t have any permission”.
Khalife admitted that he escaped with the intention of being recaptured and placed in a higher security prison where he thought he would be in a safer place.
As his trial continued, prosecutors revealed to the jury that Khalife enlisted in the army at 16 and was considered a promising soldier, but it was later disclosed that his Iranian family background prevented him from joining an intelligence unit.
While prosecutors allege Khalife shared confidential information with an Iranian intelligence agent, he denied it and told the jury that the information was of no value and he was to try to work as a double agent for Britain inspired by the TV series “Homeland”
Earlier this month, he gave a statement to the jury “I was never a real spy. I didn’t do anything that harmed our national security. I wanted to put myself in a position where I could help my country.”