Daniel Khalife's mother has tonight begged her son to get help as he "doesn't live in reality".
In what is the first time any close family members have spoken out about the former soldier since he allegedly absconded HMP Wandsworth, Farnaz Khalife, 47, said her son had been suffering from episodes of mental illness since he was a teenager.
She had been unable to call Khalife, 21, when he was in the armed forces because he would not put her on his "approved list," it is understood. However, Khalife's alleged escape from the prison has led his mother to believe he hasn't received the right support for his mental health.
Ms Khalife, a former nurse who raised her son in Kingston-upon-Thames, southwest London, said: "When he was arrested, he laughed and winked, that’s not normal. I feel helpless. This is not reality, it is a fantasy. He doesn’t think like a normal person."
The terror suspect appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today (Julia Quenzler / SWNS)Ms Khalife moved to Wales for a quieter life in 2020, two years after her son joined the army. Khalife had enjoyed watching TV programmes about the SAS and always wanted to join the regiment, his mum told The Times.
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She enrolled her son onto a BTec paramedics course at Richmond College in southwest London but Khalife pursued his interest in the military. He was, it is reported, told by SAS he had to go through the regular army first and so he ordered weights and started working out at home.
With his mum’s consent, Khalife joined at the age of 16, attending the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, before basic training in Pirbright, Surrey, and then the Defence School of Communications Information Systems in Blandford Forum, Dorset.
Khalife was eventually posted to the 1st Signal Brigade of the Royal Signals at Beacon Barracks, Stafford. His mother, who was a nurse in London, added: "He was disciplined, he was happy." However, Mrs Khalife said her son had become more distant after he turned 18 and "hardly called".
His mother, who was born in Iran but does not support the regime, urged her son to seek psychiatric help but doesn't believe he did so. She continued: "It doesn’t sound like he was getting help at all. His problems were not being taken seriously."
Mrs Khalife said she had found out that he had escaped from prison during a visit to see her daughter Yasmin - Khalife's twin sister - in London. She is studying for a master’s degree in science education at Imperial College London, it is reported.
Khalife has officially been charged with escaping custody and appeared in court briefly today to confirm his name and date of birth. His dramatic arrest yesterday came after a massive operation involving security services bugging phones and even elite SAS troops being brought in. He winked at passers-by after the 75-hour man hunt came to a close following his escape from Wandsworth prison on Wednesday.
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