Daniel Khalife ‘visited shops and McDonald’s while on the run'

A erstwhile worker accused of passing concealed accusation to Iran and escaping from situation visited shops and a McDonald’s earlier helium was arrested, a tribunal heard.

Daniel Khalife, 23, is alleged to person escaped from HMP Wandsworth successful southbound London portion connected remand by strapping himself to the underside of a nutrient transportation lorry connected September 6 2023.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC told the assemblage astatine Woolwich Crown Court connected Wednesday that Khalife “quite deliberately escaped” aft being escorted to the room wherever helium had a job.

The aboriginal probe showed immoderate of the whereabouts and enactment of Khalife, the prosecution said connected Wednesday.

On September 6, Khalife had been to Richmond and went to Mountain Warehouse, the adjacent time helium was pictured successful an M&S and Sainsbury’s, Mr Heywood said.

He added portion referring to images: “You’ll announcement by present he’s wearing a look disguise and antithetic clothing.”

On the time of the arrest, the suspect was seen successful a McDonald’s, helium added.

Mr Heywood said: “On the greeting of Wednesday 6th September aft being escorted from the compartment helium was past occupying down to the kitchen, erstwhile astatine that clip helium had a occupation helping retired connected Trinity Wing the room duties, helium rather deliberately escaped.”

His lack was discovered during a headcount and past each question successful the situation was suspended, the assemblage was told.

A transportation motortruck oregon lorry had travel to the rear of the room area, and a motortruck of the aforesaid statement was stopped successful Upper Richmond Road astatine astir 8.40am, Mr Heywood said.

The operator explained helium had been contacted by his caput office, had searched his motortruck doubly and could not find anybody wrong oregon underneath it, and constabulary recovered thing but pallets and a trolley, the tribunal heard.

A canine portion joined and “appeared to amusement peculiar involvement to the backmost and rear of the lorry”, truthful officers searched underneath, Mr Heywood said.

Officers recovered a “makeshift sling” which could “support an individual”, helium added.

The motortruck operator was shown a photograph of the missing antheral who helium recognised instantly “as the idiosyncratic who was owed to beryllium determination to assistance him but helium didn’t amusement up”, the assemblage was told.

“He intelligibly did amusement up but didn’t uncover himself,” Mr Heywood said.

Khalife was arrested connected a canal towpath successful westbound London connected September 9 2023 with a fig of items including a upland bike, a Waitrose container with a phone, receipts a diary and astir £200 successful notes, the assemblage was told.

After his arrest, Khalife said “I don’t cognize however immigrants bash it”, and was examined and recovered with scratches to his little legs, the prosecution said.

Khalife besides faces a complaint of gathering, publishing oregon communicating accusation that mightiness beryllium utile to an enemy, namely Iranian intelligence, contrary to the Official Secrets Act betwixt May 1 2019 and January 6 2022.

In addition, helium is accused of perpetrating a weaponry hoax successful Beaconside, Staffordshire, connected oregon earlier January 2023.

The 4th complaint alleges Khalife elicited oregon attempted to elicit idiosyncratic accusation astir equipped forces unit that was apt to beryllium utile to a idiosyncratic committing oregon preparing an enactment of coercion from a Ministry of Defence medication strategy connected August 2 2021.

He denies each of the charges.