Ex-soldier on spy charge visited McDonald's after prison escape, court told

A former British army soldier accused of passing secret information to Iran allegedly visited a McDonald’s and shops after escaping from HMP Wandsworth, a court has heard.

- HOLLY EVANS

Daniel Khalife, 23, is alleged to have absconded from the category B jail in south London while on remand by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery lorry on 6 September 2023.

He was being held in custody after allegedly handing over sensitive documents to his Iranian handlers, and travelling to Turkey to deliver them a package, a court has heard. This included the names and details of service personnel, including those serving in the UK’s special forces.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC told the jury at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday that Khalife “quite deliberately escaped” after being escorted to the kitchen where he had a job.

His absence was discovered during a headcount and all movement in the prison was suspended, while the lorry driver was contacted by his head office and told to search the vehicle, the jury was told.

While both he and police officers searched an empty truck, a dog unit joined and “appeared to show special interest to the back and rear of the lorry”, so officers searched underneath.

They found a “makeshift sling” which could support an individual, while the driver recognised Khalife as “the person who was due to be there to help him but he didn’t show up”.

The prosecution said that, after escaping, the former soldier travelled to Richmond and went to Mountain Warehouse, and was pictured the next day in an M&S and Sainsbury’s while wearing a face mask and different clothing. Mr Heywood said that on 9 September, the day of Khalife’s arrest, he was seen in a McDonald’s.