18 hours ago
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Former worker Daniel Khalife has denied asking Iranian agents for assistance aft helium escaped from prison.
The 23-year-old told Woolwich Crown Court the country's information services wanted to assistance him, but helium "closed the conversation" and had nary volition of trying to permission the UK.
Mr Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth successful south-west London successful September 2023 by clinging to the underside of a nutrient transportation motortruck utilizing a makeshift sling.
On Tuesday, helium pleaded blameworthy to escaping from HMP Wandsworth successful September 2023, but denies charges contrary to the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, and is accused of perpetrating a weaponry hoax.
On his 3rd time connected the run, Mr Khalife sent a present deleted Telegram connection to an Iranian contact, and helium aboriginal sent different which said simply: "I wait."
Asked wherefore helium had sent it, Mr Khalife said: "The nighttime earlier I didn't sleep... It's virtually retired of curiosity, I wanted to spot what the absorption was.
"They wanted to assistance me, I closed the conversation."
Prosecutors accidental Mr Khalife was waiting successful the Chiswick country of westbound London for assistance from Iranian information services, but nary assistance ever came.
"They didn't travel to help, did you ever recognize why?" authoritative Mark Heywood KC asked.
Mr Khalife replied: "I didn't inquire for help."
Asked wherefore helium did not manus himself successful to constabulary immediately, helium said helium wanted to past "at slightest 48 hours".
Mr Khalife antecedently told jurors helium escaped from situation truthful helium would beryllium kept successful a precocious information portion distant from "sex offenders" and "terrorists" who wanted to harm him.
He was aboriginal captured by constabulary portion riding a bicycle connected a canal towpath successful westbound London.
Asked if helium would person "kept going" had helium not been stopped, the erstwhile worker replied: "I was headed retired of cardinal London... It's afloat of cameras and that benignant of thing."
The time aft helium escaped, Mr Khalife bought a mobile telephone for £89 from a store successful Hammersmith.
While connected the run, helium besides bought apparel from Marks & Spencer and a java from McDonald's, and walked beside the River Thames earlier being caught by constabulary 3 days later.
He stole a chapeau from a Mountain Warehouse store, and started utilizing a bicycle helium found, his proceedings heard previously.
Asked wherefore helium had taken a alteration of apparel and his notebook with him erstwhile helium escaped from the prison, Mr Khalife said: "I wanted to exude a consciousness of professionalism... to amusement that I was susceptible of doing what I did."
The proceedings continues.
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