Daniel Khalife had help from prisoner on the inside while on the run, court hears

A prisoner inside Wandsworth jail helped Daniel Khalife get money while he was on the run after escaping from prison under a food delivery truck, a court has heard.

Khalife approached at least five members of the public to use their phones, including a pub manager and a driver delivering an ice sculpture in Richmond, west London, jurors were told.

He allegedly made a series of "desperate" calls to fellow inmate Adeel Khan, 32, from Highams Park, east London, who had a phone hidden inside the prison.

Khan is said to have told his girlfriend to transfer money to another man, Imran Chowdhury, 26, from Walthamstow, as payment for him to go to Richmond and withdraw £400 on the evening of the escape.

Khan and Chowdhury are accused of helping the former soldier after Khalife absconded from HMP Wandsworth by tying himself to the underside of a truck in September 2023.

Snaresbrook Crown Court was told Khalife, a serving soldier, had arrived at Wandsworth in January of that year to await trial for spying for Iran and a bomb hoax at his base.

He escaped on 6 September, supported by a sling made from bedsheets attached with carabiners to the lorry's undercarriage.

Khalife, 24, from Kingston, was sentenced to 14 years and three months last year.

Tom Williams, prosecuting, said Khalife had no money or phone but needed both "to stand any chance".

"There were people who were willing to give him that help. That is what this trial is about," he added.

"By that evening, Khalife's face was all over the media, as very significant efforts were being made to find him all over the country. In fact, he had not gone as far as some people thought."

Khalife was arrested three days later next to a canal in Northolt as he was cycling out of London.

He was carrying a diary with Khan's name, prison number, Snapchat handle, and the number of the phone Khan had hidden in the prison.

The court heard the pair were working in the kitchens on the morning of the escape and had done 190 shifts together.

Khalife was also found with £200, the remainder of the money Khan had been "instrumental in arranging", Mr Williams said.

An entry into the diary on 21 August also showed a star and the word "failed" - said to indicate an unsuccessful escape attempt.

Mr Williams said Khan was "providing instructions from inside Wandsworth prison" while Khalife was on the run and Chowdhury "was the man on the ground".

Both deny intending to "prevent, hinder or interfere" with Khalife being caught. Khan has pleaded guilty to possessing a phone inside prison.

'Geeky, maybe like a bird watcher'

On the afternoon after his escape, Khalife reached Richmond and went into a Mountain Warehouse to steal a cap, the court heard.

He then approached a man in Richmond Park and asked to use his phone.

Khan initially did not pick up, so Khalife is said to have called again and left a message of about four minutes.

He tried again later, borrowing a phone in the Rose of York pub, where the assistant manager told police he had a "well-spoken voice and came across as slightly geeky, maybe like a bird watcher".

This time, at 8.02pm, he got through, and the pair spoke for nearly three minutes. At 8.19pm, Khan used another phone in the Richmond area to call Khan again.

Mr Williams told the court the fugitive "desperately needed Khan's help by this point", and at 8.41pm Khan messaged his girlfriend with Chowdhury's bank details and said: "put 120£ in this ac please, thank u baby."

Around the same time, Khalife approached a man delivering an ice sculpture to a "very nice seafood restaurant" called Scott's and asked to borrow his phone.

The pair are said to have spoken again for about a minute.

Chowdhury allegedly headed to Richmond when the £120 landed in his account and at 10.38pm Khalife was caught on CCTV going down an alley to a cash point.

The court was told Chowdhury withdrew £400 and the pair walked back towards the river with Khalife holding a phone to his ear.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Daniel Khalife had help from prisoner on the inside while on the run, court hears