LONDON (AP) — A former British soldier whose audacious break out from a London jail spurred a dayslong seek used to be convicted on Thursday of spying for Iran. Daniel Khalife, 23, used to be discovered responsible by way of a jury in Woolwich Crown Court docket on violations of Britain’s Legit Secrets and techniques Act and Terrorism Act by way of gathering knowledge helpful to an enemy — Iran. He used to be cleared of a rate of planting faux bombs in his army barracks.Prosecutors mentioned Khalife performed a “cynical sport” by way of claiming he sought after to be a undercover agent after he had delivered a considerable amount of limited and labeled subject matter to the Iranian intelligence carrier, together with the names of particular forces officials.Khalife testified that he have been in contact with other people within the Iranian executive however that it used to be all a part of a ploy to in the end paintings as a double agent for Britain, a scheme he advanced from staring at the TV display “Fatherland.”
“I sought after to make use of my background to additional our nationwide safety,” he advised jurors.Protection legal professional Gul Nawaz Hussein mentioned Khalife’s aspirations to be a James Bond determine have been naïve, silly and bordered on slapstick. He mentioned his shopper used to be extra “Scooby Doo” than “007.”
In spite of what looked like amateurish bumbling, Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, head of counter terrorism on the Metropolitan Police, mentioned Khalife offered a threat.“He’s without equal Walter Mitty personality who used to be having an important have an effect on in the actual international,” Murphy mentioned, relating to the fictitious personality in a James Thurber quick tale a couple of meek proofreader who daydreams of bold escapades.
“We all know really well the danger that Iranians pose to the U.Okay.’s nationwide safety” Murphy mentioned, noting that 20 plots, together with assassination plans, have been disrupted by way of U.Okay. government. Khalife’s courtroom case had no longer gained a lot consideration till he escaped from a London jail in September 2023 and went at the run for 3 days.
Khalife used to be running within the kitchen in Wandsworth Jail, in south London, when he strapped himself to the ground of a supply truck and were given a boost to freedom. He used to be in the end nabbed on a canal trail after a large seek.The break out from the Victorian-era jail uncovered a lot broader weaknesses with the country’s ageing and overcrowded correctional gadget. An inquiry is these days underway into how Khalife used to be in a position to flee and whether or not others helped.Throughout his trial, Khalife pleaded responsible to the break out, however endured to contest the spying fees.Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb mentioned Khalife faces “an extended custodial sentence” when he’s sentenced after the New 12 months.Khalife joined the Military at 16 and used to be assigned to the Royal Corps of Alerts, a communications unit this is deployed with battlefield troops, in addition to particular forces and intelligence squads.He used to be advised he may no longer sign up for the intelligence carrier as a result of his mom is from Iran.At 17, he reached out to a person hooked up with Iranian intelligence and started passing alongside knowledge, prosecutors mentioned. He used to be given NATO secret safety clearance when he took section in a joint workout at Fortress Cavazos in Texas in early 2021.
British safety officers weren’t conscious about Khalife’s contacts with the Iranians till he contacted MI6, the U.Okay.’s international intelligence carrier, to provide to paintings as a double agent.He reached out to MI6 anonymously, pronouncing he had earned the accept as true with of his Iranian handlers and that they’d rewarded him by way of leaving $2,000 money ($1,578 kilos) in a canine poo bag in a north London park.Khalife mentioned lots of the subject matter he equipped to his Iranian handlers used to be knowledge he made up or knowledge to be had on-line and didn’t divulge army secrets and techniques.However prosecutors mentioned probably the most military paperwork have been authentic they usually used proof from Khalife’s cellphones, notes he wrote to himself and surveillance photos to turn he collected and shared labeled knowledge. Additionally they discovered he traveled to Turkey to fulfill a touch. “He surreptitiously sought out and got copies of secret and delicate knowledge which he knew have been safe and handed those directly to people he believed to be performing on behalf of the Iranian state,” mentioned Bethan David of the Crown Prosecution Carrier. “The sharing of the tips will have uncovered army staff to severe hurt, or a chance to existence, and prejudiced the security and safety of the UK.”
