Ex-soldier accused of spying told MI5 that Iranians 'know where my mum lives'

Daniel Khalife, 23, is accused of spying and eliciting information useful to terrorists after he was arrested in 2021

The former soldier on trial for espionage expressed his fears to MI5, stating in court that the Iranians "know about my family". He revealed: "They know where my mum lives; it's got ­insane".

In 2021, Daniel Khalife contacted the intelligence service, admitting he had been communicating with Iran for over two years. He confessed he was "worried" about coming forward but insisted all information he provided to Iran was false.

Khalife, who grew up in Kingston, South West London, enlisted in the army in 2018. He faces charges of spying and obtaining information useful to terrorists.

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Additionally, he is charged with a bomb hoax and attempting to escape from prison while on remand. Khalife, aged 23, pleads not guilty to all accusations at Woolwich Crown Court.

A transcript of his initial call to MI5's public number on November 9 was presented to the jury. He told the operator he wished to remain anonymous and shared his concerns about reporting his actions because the Iranians were "very, very, in my face", reports the Mirror.

He disclosed: "They know pretty much everything about me, they know everything about my family, they know where my mum lives, it's got insane."

Khalife maintained that all the intelligence he passed to the Iranians was "fabricated", as heard by the court. "I don't know why they keep falling for it," he commented.

The trial is ongoing.