Soldier Daniel Khalife accused of prison escape had earlier been on the run after bomb hoax, court hears

22 October 2024, 13:43 | Updated: 22 October 2024, 16:57

A soldier accused of escaping from Wandsworth prison had earlier spent more than three weeks on the run after leaving a fake bomb on his desk at an army barracks, a court heard.

Following his arrest after he went absent without leave (AWOL) from Beacon Barracks in Stafford, Daniel Khalife told police he was upset because he did not have his teeth retainer, his spot cream and some hair loss cream, Woolwich Crown Court was told.

Khalife, 23, from Kingston, southwest London, is accused of spending two years collecting secrets while serving with the Royal Corps of Signals before passing them to Iranian intelligence agents.

While on remand after he was charged under the Official Secrets Act, Khalife is alleged to have escaped from Wandsworth prison under a food catering van on 6 September last year, causing a nationwide manhunt.

His trial has now heard it was the second time he had been on the run from police.

Khalife failed to report to duty after his Christmas break on 3 January 2023 and, the next day, soldiers from the quarter masters department went to check up on him in Room 101 in the single living accommodation.

The former soldier is alleged to have fled the barracks when he realised he would face criminal charges over allegations he passed classified information to Iran's intelligence service.

Lance corporal Sameer Laksam told the trial, in a statement, that he entered Khalife's room to find what he thought were three soft drinks bottles taped together.

"I thought it was strange and dodgy, especially as they were taped together," he said.

"I didn't want to nose around people's private room. I thought nothing of it, thinking people can be strange in their private lives.

"If I had seen a timer I would have thought it was a bomb and run out. The purpose of the visit was a welfare visit so the possibility of there being a potential bomb didn't cross my mind.

"As Khalife was not present, we left the room, closing the door behind. I returned to my office and returned to my other jobs for the day."

A note was left near the device, which made it clear Khalife knew he could soon face criminal charges, the court was told.

It said: "You can say with certainty that you will go to prison for a very long time. Your options are suicide or absconding."

The note went on: "Once in Iran you can manage life again and travel to interesting places freely."

Khalife was reported to the police as AWOL, but it was not until the early hours of 7 January that officers went to Beacon Barracks and found the device.

Inspector Emily Butterworth said there had been "some discussion whether or not he should be treated as a missing person due to the fact he was actually AWOL and they would not usually be investigated in that way".

She added: "We were however given information that Khalife was under investigation and that we had been advised as such we should also be investigating the missing episode."

Khalife was spotted on CCTV cameras near Stone police station, not far from the town centre, seven miles north of Stafford, at around 2.50pm on 26 January 2023.

Patrol officers responded and one of the officers, PC Derek Matthews said to him: "Stop there for me, I believe you may be wanted."

Khalife responded with words to the effect of "what, really?" and claimed his name was Bailey Mullan, producing an army identity card in that name.

However, his colleague showed him an image of Khalife on his mobile device, and PC Matthews arrested him.

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The officers seized two mobile phones, an iPad and a rucksack containing four cables, a power pack, a baseball cap, face mask and a copy of the Book of Mormon.

He also had a driving licence in his own name and two gym cards in other names.

Interviewed by police, he was asked how he felt about "the whole situation you're in" and he told the officers: "I think a natural response would be to be upset, right? If I said I was happy I think you should get the psychologists in here. So, upset. I'm in a police station and I haven't got my retainer or my Finasteride [hair loss cream] or my spot cream."

Khalife denies committing an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state, eliciting information about members of the armed forces and escaping from lawful custody.

He denies the charges, saying he only handed over fabricated documents in an attempt to be recruited by MI6 as a double agent.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2024: Soldier Daniel Khalife accused of prison escape had earlier been on the run after bomb hoax, court hears