Inmate Sentenced for Aiding Iranian Spy Daniel Khalife During Prison Escape Manhunt

A UK inmate who assisted a former British soldier convicted of spying for Iran to evade police following his prison break has been sentenced to four and a half years in jail.

A nationwide manhunt was triggered when Daniel Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison on September 6, 2023, by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery lorry while awaiting trial on spying charges. Khalife was subsequently sentenced to 14 years and three months in February 2025 for passing extensive restricted and classified material—including special forces officers' names—to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

During the manhunt, the Met Police established that Khalife had outside help. Investigators found that Khalife communicated with Adeel Khan, 32, a former prison kitchen colleague, using an illicit mobile phone to arrange a £400 ($540) cash delivery. Khan's then-girlfriend received bank details from friend Imran Chowdhury, 26, allowing funds to be deposited. CCTV footage showed Mr Chowdhury escorting Khalife to a cash machine in Richmond, south-west London, on the escape day to withdraw the £400.

Following a two-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Khan was convicted in July of assisting an offender, having previously admitted to possessing a mobile phone in prison. Mr Chowdhury was acquitted after testifying he was unaware the money was for an escaped prisoner.

Helen Flanagan, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London, stated that the sentence underscores the severity of Khan's support and serves as a warning that those aiding wanted criminals will face justice.

The search for Khalife involved high alerts at all ports and airports alongside a £20,000 reward. He was recaptured on September 9 after stealing a bicycle and attempting to flee along a canal towpath, spotted by a citizen and intercepted by undercover officers 11km from the prison.

Trial disclosures revealed Khalife had transmitted training manuals, door codes, and secure computer screen images via WhatsApp from his post at a central England base handling sensitive UK military communications. Khalife claimed his Iranian government contacts were part of a botched double-agent scheme inspired by the TV series Homeland.