Khalife States Prison Escape Aimed at Transfer to High Security Unit

The former British army soldier, currently on trial for his escape from HMP Wandsworth, stated that his unauthorized departure from the prison was intended to secure his placement in the High Security Unit at Belmarsh Prison. During his third day of testimony at Woolwich Crown Court, he informed the jury that his objective was to achieve an upgrade to Double Category A High Risk status. He explained his desire to be incarcerated in a location separate from sex offenders, and also not within a standard wing where he believed he could face assault due to his military background. He recounted that upon his arrival at Wandsworth prison, he was assigned to the Vulnerable Prison Unit, a section where “95%” of the prisoners were serious sex offenders, including “rapists, paedophiles, that sort of thing”. He stated that he obtained employment in the kitchen’s stores, facilitated by another inmate on his wing. Mr Khalife testified, “This individual was quite a prolific sex offender. A homosexual one.” He added, “He wanted me to work with him.” He mentioned that he initially believed the man was attempting to “do me a favour,” but then stated, “He certainly wanted something.” He further indicated that prison officers had also issued warnings regarding his safety. He quoted them as saying, “They said there are terrorist offenders in this prison who want to kill you.” Consequently, he decided that the High Security Unit at Belmarsh prison would be the most secure location for him. He recounted that on 21 August 2023, he feigned an escape attempt by behaving “very suspiciously” near a food delivery lorry. He anticipated that this action would lead to an upgrade in his risk category, but no such change occurred. He then stated that on 1 September 2023, he affixed a sling, constructed from trousers and carabiners, beneath the lorry close to its tail lift. On 6 September, he climbed under the lorry, testifying, “When the tail lift raised it covered me entirely.” He informed the jury that upon the Bidfood lorry’s arrival at the prison gate, officers conducted their routine torch checks but failed to locate him. He stated, “There was action around the lorry,” and also overheard a governor inquire, “have you searched the vehicle?” He subsequently described emerging from beneath the lorry near Wandsworth roundabout. He admitted, “I accept that I left the prison and I didn’t have any permission to do so.” The court was presented with evidence that Mr Khalife had marked 6 September 2023 in his diary with an asterisk, following his decision to escape. Jurors were also shown a diary entry for the simulated escape attempt on 21 August, also marked with an asterisk. This entry also contained the word “failed,” which Mr Khalife informed the court he appended several days afterward. He additionally testified to the jury that the simulated bomb he placed on his barracks desk when he deserted in January 2022 was not intended to cause fear. He asserted, “I knew with certainty that all my colleagues would know that this was fake.” He explained to the jury that he sought media coverage for his narrative to enhance his credibility with his alleged Iranian intelligence handlers, to whom he claims he provided “entirely fictitious” information. The jury has been informed that Mr Khalife enlisted in the army at 16 and, at 17, contacted an individual associated with Iranian intelligence. Subsequently, he approached MI6, expressing a desire to act as a double agent. He has stated to the jury that all the intelligence he supplied to the Iranians was “fake” or “useless.” Mr Khalife recounted that his double agent scheme was conceived after viewing the American television series Homeland on Netflix, where a character stages a defection to Iran. He explained, “I had seen one of the characters had falsely defected to a particular country and utilised this position,” further remarking that in retrospect, he felt “embarrassed” by his plan and had been “amoral” during its conception. The former soldier commented, “If I was a real spy it wouldn’t have been difficult to defect.” He denies charges of collecting information beneficial to an enemy, compiling a list of Special Forces soldiers potentially useful for terrorism, conducting a bomb hoax, and escaping from prison. His testimony and the trial are ongoing.