Former Soldier Convicted of Spying for Iran
9 December 2024
Mark Heywood KC led in the prosecution of Daniel Khalife, a 23 year old former soldier with 16 Signals Regiment, based in Stafford, who was convicted on 28 November 2024 of obtaining and communicating information that might be useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state over a period two and a half years. After an eight week trial at Woolwich Crown Court before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb and a jury, Khalife was also convicted of recording and accessing details relating to 15 specialist members of UK Armed Forces, each belonging to the ‘protected population’, whose identities are not published for security reasons. During his own evidence during the trial, Khalife changed his plea to guilty on a count of escaping from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023, resulting in widespread publicity and a three day nationwide manhunt. Daniel Khalife will sentenced for the offences under the Official Secrets Act 1911, the Terrorism Act 2000 and the escape offence on Monday 3 February 2025.
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