A former soldier (pictured) who sparked a nationwide manhunt after escaping from prison has been convicted of spying offences.

The conviction follows an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command which found he had been sharing sensitive military information with Iranian agents.

Today, Daniel Khalife (23) has been found guilty of espionage and terrorism offences at Woolwich Crown Court.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “The threat to the UK from states such as Iran is very serious, so for a soldier in the Army to be sharing sensitive military material and information with them is extremely reckless and dangerous.

“Khalife claimed that he wanted to help the UK’s security by becoming a so-called ‘double-agent’ but the reality we uncovered is that he simply put UK security at great risk by what he was doing.

“Then, when he was in prison awaiting trial, he escaped and went on the run. But thanks to some brilliant police work – here in the Met, but also across the country – coupled with the fantastic support of the public, we were able to find and arrest him to make sure he faced justice.

“I’d like to praise all those who worked on this investigation – those who looked into Khalife’s activity in sharing information with the Iranians, but also the many colleagues from agencies and police forces who assisted us when he was at large.

“I hope this serves as a warning that the illegal sharing of information in this way will be treated extremely seriously by security services and police and we will use the full force of the law against those who put the UK’s security at risk.”

An investigation into Khalife began in November 2021 after he anonymously contacted MI5 twice that month to say that he had established contact with Iranian agents and wanted to become a ‘double agent’.

The details, however, were passed to police and they identified that Khalife was the person behind the calls and that he was a soldier in the Army based at Staffordshire Barracks.

Khalife was arrested in January 2022, and police seized various devices and documents from his room. The ensuing investigation found Khalife was in possession of various sensitive documents and information – including details of soldiers who were attached to highly sensitive military units.

They also found evidence that Khalife had made contact with Iranian agents and had passed sensitive military information to them over the preceding two-and-a-half years.

Khalife was due to be charged with offences in January 2023, however he was reported as missing by his Army unit in early January 2023. When his room was searched, what appeared to be a potential improvised explosive device was found, along with a note, indicating that Khalife had left as he feared he was going to be charged when he returned on bail.

On January 26, 2023, Khalife was spotted at a Leisure Centre in Staffordshire and was subsequently arrested and charged.

In September 2023, while awaiting trial, Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth. Police were informed and following a three-day manhunt – which involved hundreds of officers from across the Metropolitan Police, as well as support from police forces across the country and colleagues from various other agencies including those at ports and borders – Khalife was found and arrested in Northolt.

When he was giving evidence during his trial at Woolwich Crown Court, on November 11, Khalife pleaded guilty to escaping from HMP Wandsworth.

On November 28, he was found guilty of passing on information to Iran, contrary to section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911. He was also found guilty of eliciting or attempted to elicit information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Khalife was found not guilty by the jury of creating a bomb hoax at the Army barracks in Staffordshire.

He will be sentenced on December 12.

Medieval scholar M.R. James first told his haunting stories to a group of undergraduates and dons at King’s College, Cambridge, at the turn of the last century.

He started a Christmas tradition for spooky stories that’s continued ever since.

And now it’s your turn to experience the atmosphere of staying in an ancient Oxford or Cambridge college this December.

Why is it that Christmas time and creepy ghost stories go hand in hand? M.R. James’ ghost stories, many of which were first told at Christmas gatherings at King’s College, Cambridge, have now become a staple of an English Christmas.

From Mark Gatiss’ eerie modern adaptations to Robert Powell’s classic BBC readings, James’ haunting tales have become as much a part of Christmas as stockings and mince pies. Now it’s possible to soak up the ancient and occasionally eerie atmosphere with a stay at an Oxford or Cambridge college this December, says a leading travel expert.

Lily Smith, from the specialist accommodation finder UniversityRooms.com, said: “Think Christmas and candlelit ancient buildings spring to mind. That’s partly because of the wonderful sound and spectacle of Carols from King’s. It’s must-see Christmas Eve viewing and not to be missed if you are staying in Cambridge.

“However, there is also a more chilling reason an ancient university town may leap to mind. Christmas has become synonymous with cosy ghost stories. Thanks to M.R. James, the famous former Provost of King’s College, Cambridge (pictured) some of the spookiest have been set in an atmospheric old college.

“At the turn of the last century, James would light a single candle and tell his haunting ghost stories to groups of undergraduates and dons every Christmas. Many of these were published in James’ first collection, “Ghost Stories of an Antiquary,” in 1904 and they have been an essential part of Christmas ever since.”

Several of Gatiss’ most famous and scary stories, such as “Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad,” and “The Mezzotint”, are about eerie events befalling hapless professors.

Many people will have seen Mark Gatiss’ spooktacular Christmas Eve 2021 BBC adaptation of “The Mezzotint”. The curator of a university art museum (probably based on Oxford University) is scared witless when an old engraving of a country house changes every night to show a vengeful figure returning from the grave.

If you have been hooked by the atmosphere of these unsettling stories, it’s now possible to stay at a number of Cambridge and Oxford colleges this December.

The good news is you don’t have to be a student to stay in them and many are considerably cheaper – with rooms from as little as £50 a night – than staying in a hotel in these ancient cities.

Vehicle owners in high-risk areas are being urged by motoring experts to take extra precautions in the wake of Storm Bert and continued flooding.

Storm Bert has unleashed more than 80% of November’s average rainfall in under 48 hours, wreaking havoc across the UK. Torrential rain and strong winds have led to widespread flooding and severe travel delays across the country.

Low-lying areas and major transport routes have been among the hardest hit. In Listowel, over 70 homes were evacuated, and more than 100 roads have become impassable in what has been described as the worst flooding in over 50 years.

When it comes to the cost of damages at the hands of Storm Bert, past events may provide some perspective. Though calculated over a longer period of time, Government figures show flooding between November 2019 and March 2020 resulted in economic losses of £333 million.

With Storm Bert’s unprecedented rainfall, many areas of the UK are now beginning to count the costs of the damages caused, and in Northern Ireland, the combined damage to property and infrastructure, as well as disruptions to Christmas trade, means the region expects losses of millions of Euro.

Vehicles are particularly vulnerable during flooding events, and vehicle expert and Regtransfers CEO Mark Trimbee urges drivers across the country to take precautions, sharing some key advice for motorists:

“Storm Bert has caused chaos across the UK, with heavy rainfall and rising floodwaters creating hazardous conditions for drivers. If you own a car, the best thing you can do is plan ahead. Don’t leave your vehicle parked in low-lying areas where it’s vulnerable, and never attempt to drive through floodwater – even if it looks shallow. It takes just 30cm of water to make a car float, and the damage from water getting into your engine or electronics can be catastrophic.

If your vehicle has already been caught in the flood, resist the urge to start it up, as this could cause irreversible damage. Instead, get it checked by a professional before doing anything else. With storms like this becoming more common, it’s also worth double-checking your insurance to ensure you’re covered for flood-related issues.

Stay safe, keep an eye on weather alerts, and take precautions now – a little effort could save you a lot of hassle in the long run.”

Drivers are reminded to review their car insurance policies to confirm flood damage coverage. While comprehensive insurance typically includes protection against flood damage, third-party or third-party, fire, and theft policies usually do not. Negligent behaviour, such as attempting to drive through floodwaters, may also void claims, even with comprehensive cover. Coverage providers may treat the impact of Storm Bert differently, so drivers are urged to check their policy if they have concerns.

Vehicle owners in high-risk areas are encouraged to take proactive steps, such as parking on higher ground, avoiding flood-prone routes, and staying informed through weather alerts.

London needs little introduction as a city on the world stage, but if you’re travelling here for business there are some things that will help you get the most out of your trip. London attracts tourists and business travellers throughout the year – yes, even in our cold, grey winters. And there is plenty to do whatever the weather when you have some free time from your business commitments, indeed, so much to do that it’s hard to choose.

If this is your first-time visiting London, here are our tips to give you a head start planning your business trip to London and enjoying your time in this wonderful city.

Where to stay on a business trip to London?

London abounds with hotels, aparthotels and serviced apartments for the business traveller. For shorter stays hotels offer everything the business traveller needs with comfortable bedrooms, breakfast and dinner readily available in the restaurant or via room-service. What’s not to like?

However, for longer stays most people prefer staying in a serviced apartment in London so they can have the benefits of a hotel but more space and freedom to cook and eat just what they want and have a comfortable living room to relax in after a long day. Depending where you are working when visiting London, you may prefer to be near your business premises or prefer to be closer to the city centre sights. To help you decide here are just a few London locations that make a great place to stay when travelling on business to London.

City of London

This area north of the River Thames is the centre of the financial district where modern skyscrapers stand alongside historic buildings. It is a small but highly influential area often referred to as the “Square Mile” due to its approximate size of one square mile and is the financial heart of the UK as well as one of the world’s leading financial centres.

Despite being such a small area within a much larger city, some of the world’s largest financial institutions and historic landmarks are all found here. The London Stock Exchange, one of the world’s largest and most influential stock exchanges in the world, is also based here. The City is primarily a business district, but is also home to high-end restaurants, cafes and bars, hotels and serviced apartments catering to professionals and business travellers.

Mayfair

Mayfair is a very affluent part of central London with a long-established history since the Grosvenor family started to build in the area in 1677. Modern Mayfair has managed to retain some of the village feel from those early days even though it now has people from all over the world living there.

Staying in a hotel or serviced apartment in Mayfair will give you a taste of the prestigious atmosphere of the area with world renowned luxury hotels such as Claridge’s, The Dorchester and The Ritz. Not surprisingly there are also famous restaurants in Mayfair such as the Michelin-starred establishments Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught and Sketch for some of the best dining experiences in the world.

London Bridge

The London Bridge area on the south side of the River Thames is where you will find the landmark building The Shard and also the foodie delights of Borough Market, along with many of London’s major businesses. It also provides easy access via public transport or taxi to the City of London business district and is right on the Thames Path for easy riverside walks with spectacular views of many of London’s most famous landmarks, including the Tower of London, the Globe Theatre and the Millennium Bridge.

The London Bridge area has many new residential developments and hotels making it a dynamic and desirable place to live and work with a wide choice of restaurants, bars and cafes along the river. It is also a major transport hub with London Bridge station being one of the busiest railway stations in London.

The main shopping areas of London

The shopping experience in London is justifiably famous across the world with well-known flagship stores, local designers and unique vintage shops. Here are just some of the exciting shopping destinations to explore in London.

Oxford Street

Perhaps the most famous shopping street in London, Oxford Street is a mix of iconic designer brand names and high street favourites. Get your fill of the designer experience at Selfridges department store (also a great spot for lunch), then browse the shops eastwards along Oxford Street to the Carnaby Street area (near Oxford Circus tube station) for some interesting independent fashion boutiques. 

Covent Garden

The beautiful old piazza and surrounding cobbled streets have a mix of luxury and high-street fashion and beauty shops. But this is more than just a shopping area and also boasts a range of award-winning restaurants and theatres, plus vibrant cafes and bars for lively entertainment in the evening.

Westfield Stratford City

This is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and is located in the East London area of Stratford. It opened in 2011 as a central part of the area’s redevelopment for the 2012 London Olympics. It is a flagship shopping, entertainment and leisure destination in the heart of the Stratford area, which is part of the London Borough of Newham.

Westfield Stratford City is extremely well-connected to public transport being adjacent to Stratford Station, which provides access to the Central and Jubilee Lines on the London Underground, The Elizabeth line overground from Paddington in West London; and Stratford International Station, which connects to the high-speed rail service to continental Europe via the Eurostar.

The shopping mall features more than 250 stores and covers all budgets for fashion from Primark to Prada. Tech enthusiasts can explore stores like Apple, Samsung, Currys PC World, and Maplin for the latest gadgets and electronics. And after you’ve had enough retail therapy you will find a wide array of dining and entertainment options including a cinema and bowling alley.

Other places to visit in London

Kew Gardens

Located in west London, The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew is home to 50,000 living plants spread across this UNESCO World Heritage site. Probably at it’s best in spring and summer, it’s still an interesting place to visit in every season. If you are craving the great outdoors as well as interested in learning something about the biggest and most diverse botanical collection in the world, it doesn’t get much better than this on a fine day.

St. James’s Park

This park dates back to the 16^th century and is one of London’s most famous and beautiful royal parks, located in the heart of the city. The 57-acre space is bordered by several prominent landmarks so you can easily combine some nature with some history on a day out. Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey are all nearby.

The park’s central feature is its picturesque lake, where you can see a variety of birds, including swans, ducks, and even pelicans. The lake is crossed by several bridges which make for great photo opportunities. If you are lucky enough to be staying in a hotel or serviced apartment in London near St. James’s Park it also provides a peaceful escape from the hubbub of the city after your working day.

Tate Modern

Tate Modern is an iconic building in it’s own right – converted to an art gallery from the redundant Bankside Power Station, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Now it is filled with paintings and sculptures by famous artists such as Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and David Hockney, among many others. There is a permanent collection of international modern and contemporary art that are free to view but the gallery also hosts special displays (which have an entry fee).

If you visit around lunch time there is also a very good restaurant on the top floor with amazing views across the Thames to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Top tip: always best to book a table at this popular restaurant. Walk across the Millennium footbridge to visit the cathedral after lunch – a perfect day.

We know how stressful it can be trying to find the perfect gift for the men in your life. If you’re stuck for present ideas for somebody who seems to have everything, you’ve come to the right place. Whether he likes a drink, exercising, cooking or chilling out, we’ve got some great suggestions.

Top tipple

Étän Rum is an award-winning luxury golden spiced rum created by five sisters in London, with a taste and look that represents their Cameroonian heritage. The warming and flavourful rum goes great with a lot of Christmas-themed cocktails!

Distilled with a unique collection of five botanicals (“spices”): Fevergrass, Orange peel, Cassia, Ginger, and Vanilla, it has no added sugar and is vegan friendly too!

Available: Étän Rum, £41

Fitness fanatic

Enertor Energy Socks The perfect stocking filler for your sole mate. These are every runners’ must-have ultra-light, energy returning, anti-blister socks with a barely there feel.

From hitting the treadmill to taking on a game of Padel, these no-show socks will keep feet happy, cool and dry, step after step. They have a great range of sizes too, from 2.5-15.

Available: Enertor.com £13.99

Crafty cook

If he loves being in the kitchen, he will love this bestselling spices set. Complete with Chinese Allrounder; Salmon Seasoning; Bolognese Seasoning; Avocado Topping; Coffee Kiss and lots more, this is the kit for everyone who likes to cook and eat. In perfect little containers, they can be easily stashed away until they’re ready to unleash.

Available: Justspices.co.uk, from £61.19

Racing Club shares

If you want an exciting gift, how about giving her a share in a racecourse? Racing Club has shares available from just £25, or you could buy one of their three-horse packages for £125.

Racing Club is a syndicate that offers people the chance to experience racehorse ownership at a fraction of the price of owning a horse outright. Racing Club members can enjoy plenty of fantastic benefits including table visits, owner badges to see the horse run and the chance to attend events in their hospitality boxes at various venues across the country.

There’s even merchandise to match, including scarves, socks and even a bespoke Racing Club gin!

Available: Racingclub.com, from £25

Fabulous fragrance

How about a spicy, aromatic fragrance that combines the freshness of honeydew melon with the boldness of black pepper and the sensuality of davana oil?

If that sounds dreamy, Jimmy Choo is the aftershave for him. With warm base notes of tonka bean, patchouli, and labdanum add an intense, masculine finish, this is the perfect present for the man who exudes confidence.

Available: Perfumedirect.com, £33.99 for 50ml

Hoppy Christmas gift

How about a cheeky (and very exciting) early Christmas gift? Introducing the ultimate festive count down we all need this December – the SEVEN BRO7HERS advent calendar is back and better than ever!

Made up of 24 of the Salford-based brewery’s most iconic beers the Christmas calendar will include a mix of the vibrant and delicious family core range, including Easy IPA, Helles Lager and Juicy IPA. All beers are a mixture of 330ml and 440ml cans. The calendars are available now, go go go!

Available: Sevenbro7thers.com, £69.95

Throw him into pottery

Looking for the perfect gift experience for that creative person in your life, that also supports an independent Manchester business? How about giving a voucher for a workshop at Seven Limes Pottery? Vouchers can be used anytime over a year and are easily ordered online.

He can make his own mug or try the 2.5 hour introductory workshop. For a clay enthusiast who already has some experience, he would enjoy the two-day intensive throwing workshop (weekends only 10-4pm) after which their five best pots will be twice fired and clear glazed.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, family business Seven Limes Pottery has just moved from its old home in Moss Side to an Ardwick railway arch.

Available: 7limes.co.uk, from £40

Coffee lover 

Who doesn’t love a brew in the morning? He would love the new Christmas Trio Gift Box with the 250g roasts of Christmas past, present and future, straight from 200 Degrees Coffee, an independent specialty coffee roaster with a unique store in central Manchester.

This high-spirited bundle allows coffee lovers to explore three distinct flavour profiles from three single-origin coffees, making it the perfect gift for anyone with a coffee machine who enjoys mixing up their daily brew with something exciting and meaningful!

Available: 200 Degrees, £29.95

Super shaving

The Gillette Labs Regime Gift Set Neon Night delivers quick results for both shaving and moisturising, thanks to its rapid foaming and fast-absorbing skincare products. 

The set includes recyclable containers and razor blade cartridge refills, featuring a light, refreshing, masculine fragrance for an enhanced shaving experience. Additionally, it comes with a premium magnetic stand to keep your razor dry and neatly stored in your bathroom. The razor blade cartridge provided is also compatible with the Heated Razor.