An alleged spy for Iran who escaped from prison by hiding under a lorry said ‘I don’t know how immigrants do it’ when he was captured, a court heard yesterday.
Daniel Khalife is accused of absconding from Wandsworth Prison using a ‘makeshift sling made of bedsheets’ to strap himself to the underside of a food delivery truck last year.
The 23-year-old soldier sparked a nationwide manhunt after allegedly sneaking out of the Category B prison in south London while working in the kitchens.
Woolwich Crown Court heard he had made plans to flee to Iran after being arrested for passing secrets to the rogue state, including the names of SAS soldiers.
He vanished on September 6, 2023, after failing to show up to help a Bidfood delivery driver, it was said.
Prosecutor Mark Heywood, KC, said Khalife used his trusted role of helping out in the kitchen to escape after being escorted there from his cell.
He added: ‘During a routine headcount, staff realised he was missing.’ Police raced to the prison and checks revealed a lorry had driven away from the rear kitchen area.
Daniel Khalife (pictured) is accused of absconding from Wandsworth Prison using a ‘makeshift sling made of bedsheets’ to strap himself to the underside of a food delivery truck
A Bidfood delivery lorry parked near to the area in Upper Richmond Road
When the truck was located an hour later officers found a sling of knotted fabric hanging under it, attached to the vehicle with two metal clips.
Jurors were shown photographs of scuff marks under the truck. ‘It had all the appearance of being effectively a makeshift rope to support the weight of an individual holding on to the frame of the truck,’ said Mr Heywood.
Khalife managed to remain on the run for three days, despite venturing out to shops and restaurants including McDonalds, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer and Mountain Warehouse.
He was also seen strolling past a pub in Richmond, south-west London, the court heard. When he was arrested on a canal footpath, Khalife had obtained a mountain bike and was carrying a bag containing a new phone, new clothing, a sleeping bag, water bottle and £200 in cash, it was said.
On arrest, he complained he had hurt his back during his escape, jurors heard. Mr Heywood said: ‘He said ‘I don’t know how immigrants do it’, presumably a reference to being under the lorry.’
Ex-British Army soldier Daniel Khalife (pictured) managed to remain on the run for three days, despite venturing out to shops and restaurants including McDonalds, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer and Mountain Warehouse
Khalife had been working in the kitchen of HMP Wandsworth (pictured) when he allegedly vanished on September 6, 2023, after failing to show up to help a Bidfood delivery driver
The court heard that it wasn’t the first time Khalife had absconded.
When police started investigating him, he allegedly perpetrated a bomb hoax, leaving a ‘rudimentary’ IED on his barracks desk in January 2023.
A note was left behind saying: ‘The police, as expected, have more evidence than originally expected… You can say with certainty that you will go to prison for a very long time. Your options are suicide or absconding.
‘You can commit suicide whenever but you can’t abscond whenever… Once in IR (Iran) you can manage life again and travel to interesting places freely.’ Mr Heywood told the jury Khalife had visited Iran’s embassy with the intention of fleeing the country.
He denies gathering, publishing or communicating information that might be useful to an enemy contrary to the Official Secrets Act. He also denies
eliciting or attempting to elicit personal information about armed forces personnel that was likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
He further denies escaping from the prison and perpetrating a bomb hoax. The trial continues.
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