A former British soldier, facing spying charges, admitted to escaping from a London prison by clinging to the underside of a delivery truck. The 23-year-old changed his plea to guilty during his trial at London’s Woolwich Crown Court.
The individual denies violating Britain’s Official Secrets Act by collecting information useful to Iran, breaching the Terrorism Act, and planting fake bombs at a military base. The escape took place in September 2023 from Wandsworth Prison, where the soldier used a sling made from prison trousers to tie himself to the underside of a catering truck.
After a nationwide hunt involving helicopter searches and increased security checks, the soldier was arrested while cycling on a canal towpath in west London three days later.
During the trial, the soldier admitted to leaving the prison without permission, stating that he hoped to be transferred to a high-security unit at a different prison for safety reasons.
Prosecutors allege that the soldier passed classified information to an Iranian intelligence agent, while the soldier claims the information was worthless and that he intended to act as a double agent for Britain, inspired by a TV spy series.
The soldier joined the army at 16 and aspired to join an intelligence unit but was reportedly denied due to his mother's Iranian heritage. The trial continues on the remaining charges, with the soldier maintaining that he never intended to harm national security and only sought to help his country.
