Ex-Staffordshire soldier-turned spy Daniel Khalife jailed for 14 years after betraying UK

London: Daniel Khalife, a former soldier from Staffordshire, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was called a “dangerous fool” for spying for Iran and escaping from prison.

Khalife, 23, served in the British Army’s 16th Signal Regiment. He collected sensitive information and shared it with Iranian agents, putting military personnel at risk.

He was paid cash for the information, some of which he forged. Khalife even claimed he would stay in the military for over 25 years for them.

In September 2023, he escaped from HMP Wandsworth by hiding under a food truck. He was caught days later by a detective on a canal towpath.

The search for him cost £250,000, mostly in overtime for police. Khalife received six years for endangering state safety and another six years for gathering military information.

He also got two years and three months for his escape. The judge noted he had potential as a soldier but chose a dangerous path instead.

Khalife was ordered to pay £10,000 towards prosecution costs. He had been told he couldn’t work in military intelligence due to his Iranian heritage.

The judge said Khalife’s actions showed immaturity and a lack of understanding of the risks involved. He had contacted MI6 and MI5 but was ignored.

Despite being diagnosed with personality disorders, the judge said this didn’t excuse his actions. He sought attention and enjoyed the notoriety from his escape.

Khalife was found guilty of breaching the Official Secrets and Terrorism Acts. He was cleared of a bomb hoax but admitted to escaping from prison.

Prosecutors described his actions as a “cynical game.” He claimed he wanted to help British intelligence but gathered classified material instead.

He joined the Army in 2018 and secretly collected names of soldiers, including special forces members. He sent this information to Iran before deleting evidence.

After his arrest, Khalife claimed he wanted to help UK security agencies. He said he was inspired by the TV show Homeland.

He even called MI5, confessing to his contact with Iran. His lawyer argued that Khalife’s actions were naive rather than malicious.

Some documents he forged were described as “laughably fake.” His lawyer claimed his actions led to improvements in Army security.

Before escaping, Khalife used kitchen trousers and carabiners to attach himself to a lorry. While on the run, he bought clothes and coffee.

He sent a final message to the Iranians saying, “I wait,” before being caught. Concerns about his escape during the trial were high, leading to extra security measures.

Khalife hoped to be placed in a high-security unit after his recapture. His case has raised questions about prison security and military protocols.