Former soldier Daniel Khalife this morning pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey to escaping custody at HMP Wandsworth where he was on remand after being charged with terror offences earlier this year.
The 21-year-old appeared via video link from the category A, Belmarsh Prison, for the preliminary hearing, wearing a blue and bright yellow sweater. It is his second appearance in court after he was charged with escaping from prison.
The former soldier turned terror suspect became the most wanted man in the UK after he allegedly escaped from category B prison on September 6.
It led to a national manhunt and caused disruptions at major airports and ports across the UK.
Daniel Khalife disguised himself in a chef's uniform (pictured) before changing into a black baseball cap, black t-shirt and dark-coloured bottomsMet PoliceLast week at Westminster Magistrates Court, the court heard he did this by using bed sheets to strap himself to the bottom of a food delivery van, whilst dressed as a chef.
Counter terror police jumped into action after he was reported missing to them and launched an operation that involved phone tapping and bringing in the SAS.
Khalife spent 75 hours allegedly on the run from Wednesday 6 to Saturday 9 September when he was pulled by plain-clothed counter terrorism officer off a push bike, he was riding along a canal towpath.
The court also heard that when he was arrested he had a bag of cash and a mobile phone and he had changed from the clothes he was wearing in prison.
His original trial date had been set for November this year, before he escaped. During the court appearance, it was alleged that Khalife had been to Richmond park and in Chiswick as well, before he was caught.
The Metropolitan Police had been offering a £20,000 reward for any information leading to his capture.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
We’ve since learned that 80 prison officers at HMP Wandsworth did not attend their shifts on the day that Daniel Khalife escaped from the prison according to Justice Minister Damian Hinds.
He remains in custody until his trial on November 13th at Woolwich Crown Court.
