Soldier accused of spying for Iran and then escaping prison ‘wanted to be a double agent’
A SOLDIER accused of spying for Iran and then escaping from prison has told a court he wanted to be a double agent.
Daniel Khalife said notes he made about his plans were a bid to impress MI6.
He is accused of passing secrets to Iran for two years while serving with the Royal Corps of Signals.
Khalife, 23, said he only handed over fabricated documents.
After contacting MI5, he was charged under the Official Secrets Act but fled from HMP Wandsworth, South London, under a food truck last September.
A jury yesterday heard Khalife travelled to Turkey after being invited to Iran by his alleged handlers.
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But he said he made excuses and did not continue on to the hostile state.
He said: “A lot of this was fanciful and silly.
“I was trying to deceive an enemy.
“I told them what they wanted to hear.
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“I was naive to think the security service and police would believe someone such as myself would be in touch with a foreign intelligence agency for long periods for a benevolent reason.”
Khalife, of Kingston, South West London, denies spying and escaping from lawful custody.
The Woolwich crown court trial continues.
