Ex-soldier who fled jail 'wanted to be an MI6 double agent'

A former British soldier accused of escaping prison by strapping himself to the underside of a delivery truck had contacted Iranian intelligence before offering to work as a "double agent" for MI6, his trial has heard.

- Donna Ferguson

Daniel Khalife, 23, is alleged to have contacted a well-known individual connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 2019, before picking up an envelope containing £1,500 that was left by his Iranian handlers in a dog poo bag in a park in north London.

Shortly after he passed his security clearance as a soldier, pictures found on his iPhone show he picked up the bag that was decorated with paws and a bone, with an envelope inside it, and took a selfie.

The following day, Khalife, whose mother is from Iran, took steps to get a new passport and later discussed booking a flight to Turkey and a hotel.