A former British soldier accused of espionage has admitted to escaping from prison

Daniel Khalife, 23, changed his plea to guilty on Monday local time, halfway through his trial at London’s Woolwich Crown Court.

He continues to deny breaching Britain’s Official Secrets Act by collecting information useful to an enemy — namely Iran — as well as breaching the Terrorism Act and planting fake bombs at a military base.

Khalife was awaiting trial when he escaped from Wandsworth Prison in September 2023 using a strap made from trousers from the prison kitchen to tie himself to the underside of a food delivery truck.

He was arrested while cycling along a canal towpath in west London three days later after an intensive nationwide manhunt that included helicopter searches and extra security checks at major transport hubs.

“I accept that I left the prison and that I did not have any permission,” Khalifa told jurors.

He said he escaped in the hope of being recaptured and sent to a high-security unit in another prison, where he thought he would be safer.

His trial continues on other charges. Prosecutors told the jury that Khalifa joined the army at 16 and was a promising soldier, but was told he would not be able to fulfill his goal of joining an intelligence unit because his mother was from Iran.

Prosecutors allege that Khalifa passed classified information to an Iranian intelligence agent. He says the information was worthless and he hoped to act as a double agent on behalf of Britain – partly inspired by the plot of the TV spy series Homeland.

“I was never really a spy,” Khalifa told a jury earlier this month.

“I didn’t do anything to harm our national security. I wanted to put myself in a position where I could help my country.”