A former British soldier accused of passing secret information to Iran has told a court he is a “patriot” who is “against” the country.

Giving evidence for the first time, Daniel Khalife, 23, said he visited Iran as a 15-year-old and “thought it was a horrible place”.

The former soldier was taken to the country for four weeks by his “very strict” mother to show him how people lived there, his trial heard.

“I hated it,” he told Woolwich Crown Court.

“I was able to see how much I had in London,” Khalife, who wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, said.

“It’s a tragedy what’s happened to that country,” he added.

Khalife later told the court he is a patriot, adding: “I joined the military at 16 because I wanted to serve.”

He told the jury he is English and has never described himself as British, adding he joined the Army at such a young age because it was “the only way in which I could be of use to my country”, while friends were “going to college having some level of fun”.

Khalife said: “I am a patriot and I love my country.

“I absolutely was proud to join the military, I had quite big aspirations.”

Khalife, who began his evidence by saying “good morning” to jurors, told the court he was “still a boy” when he joined the military, adding there had been a “major shift” in his maturity since being held in custody.

“I’ve done a significant amount of growing up,” he continued.

Khalife, who was born in the Marylebone area of London before moving to Richmond, told jurors his mother was born in Iran.

Sketch of Daniel Khalife in the dock
Court artist drawing of Daniel Khalife in the dock at Woolwich Crown Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Asked by his barrister Gul Nawaz Hussain KC about his mother’s feelings towards the country now, he said: “To this day I don’t think I’ve met one person who lives outside of Iran who is not hostile to the government.

“My mother detests the regime, probably the country as well.

“Me and my family are against the regime in Iran.”

Khalife said he had had very little contact with his Lebanese father, who would “pop in and out, do some damage and then leave”.

The former soldier is alleged to have fled his Army barracks in January 2023 when he realised he would face criminal charges over allegations he passed classified information to Iran’s intelligence service.

Later, while on remand, he is alleged to have escaped from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023 by tying himself to the underside of a food delivery truck using bedsheets.

As well as the prison escape, he also faces charges contrary to the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, and is accused of perpetrating a bomb hoax.

He denies all the charges, and the trial continues.