Escaped inmate Daniel Khalife, who was convicted of spying for Iran, allegedly used the mobile phones of members of the public to obtain money from a fellow prisoner while he was on the run, a court has heard. The 23-year-old was found guilty of his prison escape and spying charges in November 2024 and sentenced to 14 years and three months in prison in February of the same year.
Khalife fled Wandsworth Prison in September 2023 by concealing himself on the underside of a food delivery lorry. His escape triggered a nationwide manhunt, and he was eventually apprehended three days later in Northolt, west London, approximately 14 miles from the prison, after being spotted riding a stolen bicycle along a canal towpath.
During his time on the run, Khalife is accused of making several calls to Adeel Khan, 32, who allegedly possessed an illicit mobile phone within the prison. Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Khan then contacted his girlfriend, who transferred funds to Imran Chowdhury, 26. Chowdhury's role, according to the prosecution, was to travel to Richmond and withdraw £400 from a cashpoint.
Khalife, who left prison with no money or phone, approached at least five members of the public seeking to use their devices. Among those he approached were the assistant manager of a pub called the Rose of York and a delivery driver for a seafood restaurant named Scott's. Tom Williams, prosecuting, told the jury that Khalife required funds and a phone to evade the extensive investigation underway to find him.
Khalife, formerly of the British Army, was convicted of collecting sensitive information and passing it to Iranian agents, which prosecutors stated exposed military personnel to serious harm. He was reportedly paid in cash and indicated an intention to remain in the military for over 25 years for his handlers.
A diary found on Khalife when he was arrested contained the name, prison number, and mobile phone number of Khan, who worked with Khalife in the prison kitchen on the day of his escape. Khalife also had £200 in cash, which was described as the remainder of money Khan had helped arrange. Khan had begun working in the prison kitchen with Khalife in March, and they shared 190 shifts together.
Records indicate that Khalife wrote 'Mr Khan' in his diary on August 15. On August 20, Khan reportedly began using an unauthorized iPhone registered to his girlfriend. Khalife's diary entries also included Khan's prison number, Snapchat handle, the illicit phone number, and Khan's brother's mobile number. An entry on August 21, a star and the word 'failed,' is believed to signify an unsuccessful escape attempt prior to his successful escape.
Prosecutors allege that Khan provided instructions from inside Wandsworth Prison, while Chowdhury acted as the individual on the ground, facilitating money for Khalife. By the afternoon of his escape on September 6, Khalife had reached Richmond. He entered a store and stole a baseball cap as he lacked funds to purchase one. Later, he approached a man in Richmond Park and asked to use his phone. After an initial unsuccessful attempt to reach Khan, Khalife left a message at 6:31 p.m. He later borrowed a phone in the Rose of York pub and spoke with Khan for nearly three minutes starting at 8:02 p.m. He made another call to Khan from a different member of the public's phone at 8:19 p.m.
At 8:41 p.m., Khan reportedly messaged his girlfriend with Chowdhury's bank details, requesting a £120 deposit. Around the same time, Khalife approached a man delivering an ice sculpture to Scott's restaurant and again requested to use a phone, calling Khan for a third time. Chowdhury's bank account received £120 at 8:55 p.m. Approximately 40 minutes later, Chowdhury began navigating to a location near Scott's restaurant.
Khalife made a fourth call to Khan at 9:58 p.m. using another individual's phone. Shortly thereafter, CCTV footage showed Khalife walking along George Street in Richmond before entering a side alley containing a cash point. Chowdhury withdrew £400 using his American Express card. Khalife and Chowdhury were later seen walking back towards the river, with Khalife holding a mobile phone to his ear. The prosecution suggested that Khan would have needed to carefully consider who to trust for such a task, given the significant consequences if the plan went awry.
Khan and Chowdhury have denied intending to prevent Khalife's apprehension. Khan has pleaded guilty to possessing a mobile phone inside prison without authorization.