British Soldier Daniel Khalife Gets 14 Years for Spying and Escape
Daniel Khalife, a British soldier, was sentenced to 14 years for spying for Iran and escaping from prison.
Daniel Khalife, Iran, UK, Wandsworth, MI5, Royal Corps of Signals
London: A British soldier named Daniel Khalife has been sentenced to 14 years. He was convicted of spying for Iran and escaping from prison. Khalife, 23, managed to escape from HMP Wandsworth by hiding under a food truck.
Khalife has an Iranian mother and a Lebanese father. He was recruited by Iranian agents through Facebook shortly after joining the Royal Corps of Signals. Security officials are unsure what information he shared, as he deleted everything before his arrest.
His escape led to a nationwide manhunt. He was on the run for three days in September last year. The judge sentenced him to 12 years for spying and an additional two years and three months for the prison break.
Last November, a jury found him guilty of three charges related to passing sensitive information to Iran. Khalife claimed he was a double agent, but the jury did not believe him. His lawyer even said his actions were more like a cartoon than a spy movie.
During sentencing, the judge expressed disappointment that Khalife had contact with Iranian agents for two years. She noted that his actions showed a lack of maturity and understanding of the risks involved.
Khalife had tried to contact MI6 and MI5 to become a double agent but was ignored. The judge pointed out that he continued to betray his country, putting others at risk.
He had contacted a man linked to Iranian intelligence shortly after joining the army. Khalife created fake documents and shared genuine army information, claiming he would stay undercover for over 25 years.
He even collected sensitive information about 15 soldiers, which he believed he passed on to Iran. In November 2021, he called MI5, admitting his contacts with Iran but later fled his base, leaving behind a fake bomb.
After being arrested, he escaped from HMP Wandsworth by using his kitchen role to hide under a food delivery truck. He later admitted he wanted to be caught to move to a safer prison.
The prosecution described Khalife as a “Walter Mitty” character, whose actions had serious real-world consequences. He was convicted of acts harmful to national security but cleared of a bomb hoax.
The Crown Prosecution Service emphasized that Khalife used his position to undermine national security, putting military personnel at risk.