Daniel Khalife: 'Jovial' soldier congratulated officer who arrested him after alleged prison escape, court told

A police officer has described how a soldier was "friendly" and "quite jovial" when he was captured, three days after allegedly escaping from Wandsworth jail, a court has heard.

A detective sergeant also told at Woolwich Crown Court Daniel Khalife congratulated him after he arrested the former member of the Royal Signals.

Khalife, 23, denies four charges including escaping from prison while being held on remand at the jail, accused of passing sensitive information to Iranian agents.

He is alleged to have made a getaway on 6 September last year by strapping himself under a lorry, triggering a nationwide manhunt.

An officer from the Metropolitan Police - who was granted anonymity by the judge - described grabbing Khalife as he cycled towards him on the Grand Union Canal in west London on 9 September.

The plainclothes officer said he was made aware of a sighting on the canal footpath in the Northolt area, close to the A40.

"It was a fast-moving situation," he told Woolwich Crown Court. "It was a big area being searched and I knew there wouldn't be anyone else who would be close to where I was.

"He was coming towards me approximately 10m away. I pulled my Taser out.

"At the point I was sure it was Daniel Khalife, I shouted 'stop police, you're under arrest' but it was happening really, really quickly."

Officer pulled Khalife off his bike

"The speed he was going, he didn't really have time to stop," the detective sergeant said. "He was level with me and I couldn't deploy the Taser so I grabbed his arm and pulled him off the bike... he was on the floor and he put his hands out by his side."

"I asked him if he was okay and if he was harmed and he said he wasn't."

The former soldier "did comply" and was handcuffed.

'Friendly' and 'jovial' after capture

Jurors were shown an image of Khalife after the arrest, showing him sitting on the ground wearing a white T-shirt, blue shorts and red socks with no shoes on.

Police seized several items including a Waitrose bag with a phone, receipts, a diary and about £200 in notes.

Asked about his demeanour, the officer said: "He was friendly... quite jovial. At no point did he try to resist. He was pleasant... he congratulated me on catching him."

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Defence barrister Gul Nawaz Hussain KC claimed Khalife had got off his bike, given himself up and said to the officer: "It's fine you got me."

But the detective sergeant told the court: "No, that is complete and utter rubbish."

Khalife also faces charges contrary to the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, and is accused of perpetrating a bomb hoax. He denies all the charges.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2024: Daniel Khalife: 'Jovial' soldier congratulated officer who arrested him after alle