Former soldier Daniel Khalife has been sentenced for espionage and escaping custody, revealing a troubling history of military deception and criminal behavior.
Khalife grew up in Kingston, London, with his twin sister. His mother was from Iran, and he had little contact with his Lebanese father. He described his father as a bad influence.
As a teenager, Khalife got into shoplifting. He learned how to remove security tags using magnets. At 15, he visited Iran for a month but disliked it, realizing he appreciated life in the UK more.
He wasn’t a fan of school but managed to pass 10 GCSEs. Khalife loved planes but didn’t pursue being a pilot due to a fear of heights. Instead, he admired the Household Cavalry Barracks in Hyde Park.
In September 2018, just before turning 17, he joined the British Army. He completed basic training in February 2019 and felt proud to serve his country. He joined the Royal Corps of Signals, focusing on communications and IT.
Khalife passed security clearance, allowing him access to sensitive information. A troop commander warned him that his Iranian background might hinder his military intelligence career.
Determined to prove them wrong, he contacted Iranian handlers, hoping to work as a double agent. He completed his training in early 2020 and was posted to the 16th Signal Regiment in Stafford.
In 2021, he spent time in Texas but continued communicating with his Iranian contacts. He claimed he wanted to expose Iranian spies in the UK but found no evidence.
Khalife even contacted MI5 and MI6, offering his services. However, MI5 reported him to the police, leading to his arrest in January 2022.
Facing serious charges a year later, he fled his barracks. For three weeks, he lived in a stolen van, using fake number plates, trying to avoid capture.
