By james art Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, Daniel Khalif said he wanted to “draw out” the Iranian intelligence officials he was in contact with and “strengthen a relationship based on lies”.
The 23-year-old told jurors he was “considering a possible trip to Iran” while he was still a soldier, but feared there could be repercussions if they found out the information he was providing was “fabricated”.
“I felt that would be dangerous,” he said.
When police arrested him and searched his room, they found a number of “completely fake” documents purported to be from MPs, senior military officials and the security services, his trial heard earlier.
Khalif told the court he hatched a plan to “digitize” the documents by placing a laptop in a “fake diplomatic bag” to make it look like he had been intercepted.
He intended to try to sell the device, jurors heard.
In August 2020, he traveled to Istanbul in Turkey, the court heard, where he was told to take a flight to Iran.
Khalif told jurors he “deliberately sabotaged the operation” by making up excuses as to why he could no longer travel.
The former soldier, who describes himself as an “aviation geek”, told foreign agents he was “scared” to fly on the old plane operated by Mahan Air.
Asked about a video he shot outside a hotel in Istanbul, Khalif said it was made to prove he was really there.
“I wasn’t just shooting outside the hotel for fun,” he said.
The Iranians still didn’t believe him and “sent someone to expose me,” he added.
Asked about the use of WhatsApp groups to share orders and even classified documents in the army, Khalif said the practice was “standard procedure”, adding that it would be “impossible” to operate without it.
The ex-soldier is said to have fled his army barracks in January 2023 when he learned he would face criminal charges on charges he had passed classified information to Iran’s intelligence service.
Later, while in custody, he allegedly escaped from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023 by tying himself to the bottom of a food delivery truck using sheets.
As well as escaping from prison, he also faces charges of breaching the Official Secrets Act and the Terrorism Act and is accused of carrying out a bomb hoax.
He denies all charges and the trial continues.