A 25-year-old man has been charged with aiding Daniel Khalife, the former British Army soldier, following his dramatic escape from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023.
Imran Chowdury, from Chingford in east London, is accused of providing assistance to Khalife after he broke out of the south London prison. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Chowdury is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Police have not disclosed the nature of the assistance Chowdury is alleged to have provided during Khalife’s brief time on the run.
A 25-year-old woman who had been arrested in February 2024 on suspicion of assisting an offender will face no further action, the Met confirmed.
The Dramatic Escape
Daniel Khalife, 23 at the time, escaped HMP Wandsworth on 6 September 2023 by clinging to the underside of a food delivery lorry using homemade straps. The former soldier’s escape triggered a massive four-day manhunt.
CCTV footage revealed Khalife’s resourceful journey as he used a trolley to hide himself, shopped at Marks & Spencer, stole a hat from Mountain Warehouse, and entered a McDonald’s where he drank coffee and changed his clothes.
He was eventually arrested on 9 September after being spotted riding a stolen mountain bike along a canal path in west London. Police bodycam footage captured the moment of his arrest, with Khalife congratulating the officer who tackled him.
Further investigations revealed that Khalife had been staying in a stolen Ford Transit van during his escape. The vehicle contained a camp bed, approximately £20,000 in cash, and notes expressing his intention to defect to Iran.
The Met later admitted that Khalife had displayed “ingenuity” in evading capture during his time on the run.
Convictions and Espionage Charges
Khalife was already facing serious charges under the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act at the time of his escape. In November 2024, a jury found him guilty of spying for Iran.
The court heard that Khalife had collated and passed on classified documents, military communications, and information about British soldiers to Iranian authorities over more than two years.
He had previously denied the charges, which also included perpetrating a bomb hoax.
Impact and Reaction
The case of Daniel Khalife has highlighted concerns over prison security and the handling of individuals charged with serious offences. His escape and subsequent recapture made headlines across the UK, prompting an internal review of procedures at HMP Wandsworth.
The assistance allegedly provided by Imran Chowdury adds another layer to the case, as the Met continues its investigations into any additional accomplices who may have aided Khalife.
Chowdury’s court appearance is expected to provide further details about the nature of his involvement in the case.
