Daniel Khalife Escape: Prisoner Adeel Khan Found Guilty, East London 2026

Key Points

• Conviction of Accomplice: Adeel Khan, 32, of Waltham Forest, east London, has been found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of assisting an offender by arranging funds for escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife.
• Second Defendant Acquitted: Imran Chowdhury, 26, a web developer from Chingford, east London, was acquitted of the same charge after the jury accepted he was unaware he was helping a fugitive.
• Financial Assistance Provided: Khan arranged for a £400 cash withdrawal to be handed to Khalife in Richmond using his mobile phone contacts from inside HMP Wandsworth.
• Illicit Communications: Khan pleaded guilty prior to the trial to possessing an unauthorized mobile phone inside prison.
• Background of Fugitive: Former British Army soldier Daniel Khalife escaped HMP Wandsworth on 6 September 2023 by strapping himself beneath a food delivery lorry.
• Sentencing Scheduled: Khan was remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 4 September 2026.

Snaresbrook Crown Court (East London Times) July 22, 2026 –Adeel Khan, a 32-year-old prisoner from Waltham Forest, east London, has been convicted of assisting an offender following the high-profile escape of former British soldier Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023.

A jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court deliberated for four hours and 36 minutes before returning an 11-to-one majority guilty verdict against Khan. The court found that Khan, who worked with Khalife in the prison kitchen, facilitated communication and coordinated financial support for Khalife while the latter was evading a nationwide police manhunt.

Meanwhile, a second defendant, 26-year-old Imran Chowdhury of Chingford, east London, was cleared of assisting an offender. Following the verdict, Judge Murray Shanks observed that the jury’s decision indicated Chowdhury “didn’t know what the hell was going on” when he delivered the funds to Khalife.

How Did Adeel Khan Help Daniel Khalife While Behind Bars?

As reported by Duncan Gardham, security journalist for Sunshine Radio, evidence presented during the trial revealed that Khan utilized an illicit mobile phone inside HMP Wandsworth to maintain regular communication with Khalife after his prison break on 6 September 2023.

Khan had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a mobile phone in prison, contrary to Section 40 D(1) of the Prisons Act 1952.

According to evidence cited by prosecution lawyers and outlined by Counter Terrorism Policing London, Khalife made multiple calls to Khan using mobile phones borrowed from passers-by on the street. On the evening of the escape, Khan instructed his then-girlfriend, Nazish Mahmood, to transfer £120 to Chowdhury’s bank account as payment for procuring cash for Khalife.

As detailed in prosecution statements, Khan messaged Mahmood at 8:41 pm on the night of the escape: “Put 120£ in this ac… please thank u baby”. Bank records showed the funds arrived in Chowdhury’s account shortly after at 8:55 pm.

What Role Did Imran Chowdhury Play in the Handover?

CCTV footage shown to the jury depicted Chowdhury meeting Khalife in Richmond, south-west London, at 10:38 pm on the night of the escape. The court heard that Chowdhury withdrew £400 using his American Express card from an ATM on George Street before walking into an alleyway with Khalife to hand over the cash.

Defence barrister James Hasslacher, representing Chowdhury, told the court that his client was a web developer of good character who had been entirely duped by Khalife.

As reported by Simon Childs of Novara Media, Hasslacher described Khalife as a trained operative who “knows how to deceive,” emphasizing that Chowdhury was completely unaware he was interacting with a fugitive wanted on national security charges.

The prosecution confirmed that Khalife subsequently used the £400 cash to buy clothing at Marks & Spencer, purchase food, and secure a new 3G mobile phone to remain mobile during his three days on the run.

How Was the Connection Between Khan and Khalife Discovered by Police?

When Metropolitan Police officers intercepted Khalife on a canal towpath in Northolt on 9 September 2023, they seized a red 2023 diary from his possession. Inside the diary, Khalife had written Khan’s name, his illicit prison phone number, his personal mobile number, and his Snapchat handle. Khalife was also found with £200 in £20 notes remaining from the ATM withdrawal.

As stated by Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London:

“A huge amount of police resource was used during the manhunt for Daniel Khalife – a man who has now been convicted of espionage and terrorism offences. Adeel Khan knowingly helped him to try and evade capture by arranging for him to be given £400 cash, which enabled him to buy a mobile phone and other items that helped extend his time on the run. This case demonstrates that anyone who helps a criminal in this way will find themselves arrested and now they are also facing justice.”

Khan was remanded into custody following the verdict and will return to Snaresbrook Crown Court for sentencing on 4 September 2026.

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Background of the Particular Development

The conviction of Adeel Khan marks the culmination of secondary investigations stemming from one of the most high-profile UK prison escapes in recent history. On 6 September 2023, Daniel Khalife, then 21 years old and awaiting trial on charges under the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, escaped from Category B HMP Wandsworth in south-west London.

Khalife, a former Royal Signals soldier, managed to slip out of the facility by strapping himself to the underside of a Bidfood delivery truck using slings fashioned from prison kitchen trousers or bedsheets.

His escape triggered an international police hunt, heightened border checks across UK ports and airports, and extensive searches across London. He was captured 75 hours later near the Grand Union Canal in Northolt after being spotted by an undercover officer.

In late 2024, Khalife was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court of collecting information useful to an enemy (Iran) and escaping lawful custody.

In February 2025, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sentenced Khalife to 14 years and three months in prison. Investigations into his support network subsequently focused on illicit communications inside HMP Wandsworth, leading directly to the prosecution of Khan and Chowdhury.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Public and the Prison System

The conviction of Adeel Khan is expected to accelerate regulatory and operational overhauls across HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), directly affecting the public, prison personnel, and inmates.

First, the case highlights persistent vulnerabilities regarding contraband mobile devices inside Category B institutions. In response, the Ministry of Justice is likely to increase funding for signal-blocking technology, airport-style security scanners for prison workers, and stricter protocols within working zones like prison kitchens.

Second, for the general public and criminal justice observers, this conviction establishes a firm legal precedent regarding third-party assistance to fugitives.

By prosecuting individuals who facilitate financial transactions via intermediaries, counter-terrorism agencies have signalled that secondary support networks—even those operating behind bars—will face severe legal consequences. This may act as a deterrent against individuals attempting to assist fugitives under the guise of casual favors or indirect transactions.