A former British who staged an audacious by strapping himself under a food delivery truck has been convicted of for . Daniel Khalife, 23, used a pair of kitchen trousers to fashion a makeshift sling, before clinging to the underside of the van as it left HMP Wandsworth. The incident sparked a major security alert and a four-day nationwide manhunt that ultimately resulted in Khalife’s recapture.
Khalife, who had served as a soldier in the , pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody mid-way through his trial at . A jury has now found him guilty of collecting secret information to pass to Iranian agents. Khalife denying spying for the Middle Eastern regime, claiming instead that his activities had been part of a ploy to become a double agent for the UK.
He had gathered restricted and classified material, including the names of serving soldiers including those in the Special Air Service and Special Boat Service. Khalife was also accused of leaving behind a fake bomb at his barracks in Stafford before going AWOL from the Army when he was about to be caught, but the jury cleared him of a bomb hoax. Khalife was being held at HMP Wandsworth on remand when he broke out on September 6 last year.
Footage played during the trial showed Khalife leaving his cell that morning and carrying out his kitchen duties. Later the same day, a headcount by guards revealed that he had escaped. Khalife was caught on camera brazenly shopping after his breakout of prison - buying clothes from Marks & S.
