Admin I Monday, February 03, 2025
LONDON- A former British soldier who sparked a nationwide manhunt after escaping from prison has been jailed for spying for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
His conviction and sentencing follows an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, which found he had been sharing sensitive military information with Iranian agents.
Daniel Khalife, 23 was sentenced on Monday, 3 February at Woolwich Crown Court to a total of 14 years and three months’ imprisonment for espionage and terrorism offences.
He was previously convicted of these offences in November 2024, following a trial at the same court.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “This sentence reflects the gravity of the offences committed by Khalife.
“The threat to the UK from states such as Iran is very serious, so for a soldier in the Army to be sharing sensitive military material and information with them is extremely reckless and dangerous.
“I’d like to reiterate my praise to all those who worked on this investigation – those who looked into Khalife’s activity in sharing information with the Iranians, but also the many colleagues from agencies and police forces who assisted us after his escape from prison.
“It was thanks to a combination of fantastic support from the public, along with some brilliant police work that we were able to find and arrest Khalife after his escape and make sure he faced justice.
“This outcome and sentence should serve as a warning to others that the illegal sharing of information in this way will be treated extremely seriously by security services and police, and we will use the full force of the law against those who put the UK’s security at risk.”
An investigation into Khalife began in November 2021 after he anonymously contacted MI5 twice that month to say that he had established contact with Iranian agents and wanted to become a ‘double agent’. The details, however, were passed to police and they identified that Khalife was the person behind the calls and that he was a soldier in the Army based at Staffordshire Barracks.
Khalife was arrested in January 2022, and police seized various devices and documents from his room. The ensuing investigation found Khalife was in possession of various sensitive documents and information – including details of soldiers who were attached to highly sensitive military units. They also found evidence that Khalife had made contact with Iranian agents and had passed sensitive military information to them over the preceding two-and-a-half years.
Khalife was due to be charged with offences in January 2023, however he was reported as missing by his Army unit in early January 2023. When his room was searched, what appeared to be a potential improvised explosive device was found, along with a note, indicating that Khalife had left as he feared he was going to be charged when he returned on bail.
On 26 January 2023, Khalife was spotted at a leisure centre in Staffordshire and was subsequently arrested and charged.
In September 2023, while awaiting trial, Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth. Police were informed and following a three-day manhunt – which involved hundreds of officers from across the Metropolitan Police, as well as support from police forces across the country and colleagues from various other agencies including those at ports and borders – Khalife was found and arrested in Northolt.
When he was giving evidence during his trial at Woolwich Crown Court, on 11 November, Khalife pleaded guilty to escaping from HMP Wandsworth.
On 28 November, he was found guilty of passing on information to Iran, contrary to section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, for which he was sentenced on Monday, 3 February to six years imprisonment.
Khalife was also found guilty of eliciting or attempted to elicit information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000. He was sentenced to six years’ consecutive (consisting of five years custodial, with an additional year on licence).
Khalife was also sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment for his prison escape – again to be served consecutively – meaning he was sentenced to a total of 14 years and three months. Khalife will also be subject to notification requirements under part 4 of the Counter Terrorism Act, 2008 for 15 years.
Khalife was found not guilty by the jury of creating a bomb hoax at the Army barracks in Staffordshire.
