British soldier, 23, escaped prison to show off his 'skillset' and so he would be locked up in high security unit away from 'paedophiles' and 'terrorists' who wanted to harm him, court hears LISTEN: The Trial of Daniel Khalife - available wherever you get your podcasts now By Jack Hardy Published: 19:00, 1 November 2024 | Updated: 19:04, 1 November 2024 e-mail A British soldier has told a court he escaped from prison and went on the run to show 'what a foolish idea it was having someone of my skillset' behind bars. A nationwide manhunt was launched in September last year after Daniel Khalife , 23, escaped from HMP Wandsworth while awaiting trial on allegations he was a spy for Iran . Exploiting his role in the prison kitchens, he used a sling made from kitchen trousers to attach himself to the underside of a food delivery lorry and was driven to freedom.
He remained at large for three days before being arrested while cycling on a canal towpath by a plain-clothed police officer. Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court, Khalife insisted he had no intention of remaining at large - and only escaped to ensure he would be put in a high-security segregated unit when he was transferred to a more dangerous category A prison. Soldier Daniel Khalife told a court he escaped from prison to show British intelligence serivces 'what a foolish idea it was having someone of my skillset' behind bars Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court, Khalife insisted he only escaped to ensure he would be .
