Daniel Khalife faces sentencing for spying for Iran and escaping Wandsworth prison, exposing military personnel to danger.
London: Former soldier Daniel Khalife is about to be sentenced. He was caught spying for Iran and escaping from Wandsworth prison.
Khalife, 23, served in the British Army. He collected sensitive information and shared it with Iranian agents, putting military personnel at risk.
He received cash for the information. Khalife even claimed he would stay in the military for over 25 years for them.
In September 2023, he escaped from HMP Wandsworth. He hid under a food delivery truck to get out. Days later, police caught him on a canal towpath.
Prosecutors said Khalife played a “cynical game.” He pretended to want a career as a double agent to help British intelligence.
In November, a jury found him guilty of breaching the Official Secrets Act and the Terrorism Act. He admitted to escaping from prison.
Khalife was the ‘ultimate Walter Mitty character’
Police described him as the “ultimate Walter Mitty character.” He joined the Army in 2018, just before his 17th birthday.
In 2021, he gathered names of serving soldiers, including special forces members. He took a photo of a list of 15 soldiers.
Prosecutors believe he sent this list to Iran before deleting the evidence. After his arrest, he claimed he wanted to help UK security agencies.
Khalife is set to be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday.
He told jurors he wanted to prove his bosses wrong about his Iranian heritage. He came up with his double agent plot after watching the show Homeland.
In November 2021, he called the MI5 public reporting line. He confessed to being in contact with Iran for over two years.
Khalife offered to help British security services and wanted to return to his normal life.
His defense attorney described the double agent plot as “hapless” and “sometimes bordering on the slapstick.”
Prosecutors said he prepared a bomb hoax at his barracks in January 2023. A soldier proved the device was not real by pulling wires out.
A bomb disposal unit was called in days later to examine the device.
Khalife will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday.
