Daniel Khalife 'escaped Wandsworth Prison during failed mock inspection'

25 September 2023 , 08:32

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Daniel Khalife has denied escaping from Wandsworth Prison (Image: Metropolitan Police/AFP via Gett)

Alleged prison escapee Daniel Khalife was 'allowed to slip past' staff during a mock inspection when their guard was down, it has been claimed.

The terror suspect has pleaded not guilty to escaping from Wandsworth Prison earlier this month on the day he had been due to stand trial. The ex-soldier is accused of slipping out unnoticed underneath a food delivery lorry, allegedly using bedsheets to secure himself.

Now prison insiders have alleged to the Daily Mail that a trial inspection was being carried out that day, which meant staff's attentions were averted elsewhere. "It was widely known in the prison that a mock inspection was taking place because official inspections are such a big deal and the governor wanted to make sure they were fully prepared," a source told MailOnline.

The front entrance of HMP Wandsworth (Getty Images)

"It's more than a little ironic a prisoner managed to leg it on the very day the prison was supposed to be at the top of its game." On the day Khalife vanished from HMP Wandsworth in the escape he denies, there were 80 officers who didn't turn up for their shifts at the prison.

This was almost 40 per cent of all staff due to work that day. The Ministry of Justice refused to comment on the claims directly, saying in brief statement that: "An investigation is ongoing."

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Khalife was remanded into custody four days after the alleged escape after being found in the Northolt area of West London. He had previously been charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act after allegedly planting a fake bomb on a RAF base and gathering information that might be useful to a terrorist.

He appeared via video link from the higher security HMP Belmarsh at the Old Bailey on Thursday to deny the prison escape charge. Mr Justice Jeremy Baker joined the charges and Khalife will be tried at Woolwich Crown Court on November 13 for all four offences.

He will reappear at the Old Bailey on October 13 for a review hearing where the trial date may be discussed.

Susie Beever