Accused 'Iranian spy' now admits escaping from jail

A BRITISH soldier suspected of spying for Iran has changed his plea for escaping from prison to guilty halfway through giving evidence at his trial.

- Paul Jeeves

Daniel Khalife, 23, triggered a nationwide manhunt last September after slipping out of HMP Wandsworth in South London while clinging to the bottom of a food truck.

He had denied the charge of escaping from lawful custody, along with allegations of spying for Iran for which he is standing trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

But yesterday Mrs Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb told jurors the escape charge was to be put again to the defendant, to which he replied: "I'm guilty." He continues to deny the other charges against him.