Daniel Khalife, the former British Army soldier who escaped from Wandsworth Prison last September, has pleaded guilty to the charge of escaping from lawful custody. Initially, Khalife had pleaded not guilty to the escape charge and had been in the process of giving evidence at his trial. However, during the proceedings today, the charge was put to him again, and he admitted guilt. The jury subsequently returned a guilty verdict on the charge of escaping from lawful custody. Khalife’s trial on three other charges—related to national security—is still ongoing.
Details of the Escape
Khalife’s escape, which sparked a high-profile manhunt, took place in September 2023. He managed to flee from Wandsworth Prison by hiding under a food delivery lorry in a makeshift sling. The lorry’s tailgate concealed him as he hung beneath it, allowing him to slip away unnoticed. He dropped off the lorry near Wandsworth roundabout and then disappeared into London. After three days on the run, he was eventually recaptured.
During his trial, Khalife provided testimony in which he explained that he had escaped because he had been placed in the prison’s vulnerable prisoners’ unit, which mainly houses sex offenders. He also stated that he had been warned by fellow inmates that “terrorists” in Wandsworth might attempt to attack him. Khalife claimed that he believed escaping would lead to his transfer to the high-security unit at Belmarsh Prison, which he considered a safer option.
Security Failures at Wandsworth Prison
Following the escape, an audit identified 81 security failings at Wandsworth Prison. These included problems with CCTV cameras that had been malfunctioning for over a year. The prison’s Independent Monitoring Board described these issues as “long overdue” to be addressed, and upgrades to security measures were subsequently implemented.
National Security Charges
Khalife’s trial also involves three separate charges linked to national security. He is accused of collecting and communicating information useful to an enemy, specifically Iran; gathering the names of Special Forces soldiers for potential use in terrorism; and perpetrating a bomb hoax at his Army barracks.
Khalife has denied these charges, claiming that the information he provided to Iranian contacts was “fake” or “useless.” His defense team has argued that Khalife’s actions were not aimed at harming the UK or its interests, while he continues to assert that his communications with Iranian officials were not intended to betray his country.
Background
Khalife, who joined the British Army at the age of 16, reportedly made contact with an individual linked to Iranian intelligence when he was just 17. It is alleged that he later approached MI6, expressing a desire to act as a double agent. He has maintained that the intelligence he passed on to the Iranians was either fabricated or inconsequential.
His trial is ongoing, and further evidence is expected to be presented as it continues.
Khalife’s escape and the charges against him have drawn significant attention due to their connection to both national security concerns and issues with prison management and security.