Ex-British soldier sentenced to 14 years for spying for Iran

A former British soldier who escaped from custody while facing charges of gathering sensitive information for individuals linked to Iran’s IRGC was sentenced to 14 years and three months in prison at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Monday.

Daniel Khalife received six years for breaching the Official Secrets Act, six years for a terrorism offense, and two years and three months for escaping from prison, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

Khalife, 23, joined the British Army in 2018 and served with the Royal Corps of Signals. While enlisted, he "exposed military personnel to serious harm" by gathering and passing on sensitive information to Iran.

The judge said Khalife "took payment on two occasions and traveled to meet intelligence officers from Iran in Turkey." She noted that he "recorded a great deal of information," including the full names of fellow soldiers, and was "driven firmly to the conclusion that this was to send to the Iranians."

Khalife, who escaped from Wandsworth Prison in September 2023 but was caught days later, passed information to Iranian agents for cash and told handlers he would stay in the military for more than 25 years to serve them.