A man has been convicted of assisting former soldier Daniel Khalife in his escape from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023. Adeel Khan, 32, from Waltham Forest in east London, was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of helping Khalife flee the prison by hiding under a food delivery truck. Khalife was apprehended after a 75-hour manhunt and later sentenced to over 14 years in prison for spying for Iran and escaping custody. A second defendant, Imran Chowdhury, 26, of Chingford, east London, was acquitted of the same charge.

Khalife, who joined the British Army at 16, was convicted in 2024 of passing sensitive information to the Iranian regime, including the identities of special forces personnel. He had previously contacted MI6 offering to act as a double agent, which led to an investigation and his arrest in 2022. He was awaiting trial when he escaped from Wandsworth.

Court evidence revealed that Khan, who worked with Khalife in the prison kitchen, facilitated the escape. After Khalife's breakout, Khan recruited Chowdhury to withdraw £400 from a cash machine in Richmond, providing support to Khalife while he was on the run. Khan also arranged for Chowdhury to be paid £120 for this task. Communications introduced at trial included a message from Khan to his then-girlfriend at 8:41 p.m. on the night of the escape, requesting the payment be made into Chowdhury’s account. Prosecutors noted that Khalife was found with about £200 in £20 notes when recaptured, part of the funds withdrawn by Chowdhury.

A red diary recovered from Khalife’s possession contained various contact details for Khan, including an illegal prison phone number, personal mobile number, and a Snapchat account, further linking the two men.

During the trial, Chowdhury’s defense argued that he was not aware he was assisting an escaped prisoner, describing Khalife as a deceptive spy. His legal team highlighted Chowdhury’s clean record and current employment in a technical position at a national newspaper.

Following the verdict, Khan was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on September 4. The case underscores the complexities surrounding prison security and the challenges posed by individuals convicted of espionage.