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A British court has sentenced former soldier Daniel Khalife to 14 years and three months in prison for espionage on behalf of Iran and for escaping custody.
Khalife, who gained international attention after his high-profile prison break in 2023, was convicted of spying for Tehran in November last year.
The judge, Parmjit Kaur Cheema-Grubb, described Khalife during his sentencing on February 3 as a “dangerous fool” who was initially driven by “a selfish desire to show off” rather than intending to harm the interests of the United Kingdom.
“The mere fact you started on this dangerous and fantastical plan demonstrates your immaturity and lack of wisdom,” Cheema-Grubb said.
Who is Daniel Khalife?
Daniel Khalife, 23, born in London, enlisted in the British Army in 2017 with aspirations of becoming a spy. After being rejected by MI6, he turned against the UK, betraying it by passing sensitive information to Iran.
Motivated by revenge, Khalife began collecting classified data and sharing it with Iranian operatives. He was paid in cash and assured his handlers that he would easily climb the ranks within the army.
In September 2023, while awaiting trial at London’s Wandsworth Prison, Khalife escaped, triggering a large-scale manhunt. He remained on the run for three days before being captured.
