Terror suspect Daniel Khalife has denied escaping from Wandsworth prison.
The former soldier, 21, is accused of breaking out of the Category B jail on the morning of 6 September.
He is said to have been working in the prison kitchen and wearing a cook’s uniform when he allegedly used bedsheets to strap himself under a food truck to make his getaway.
Police said Khalife was arrested on a canal towpath on 9 September after being pulled off a push bike by a plain-clothes officer.
He appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink from Category A Belmarsh prison today, where he sat at a desk wearing a bright yellow and blue sweater.
Khalife, a former member of the Royal Signals who was based at Beacon Barracks in Stafford, spoke to say he could hear the court and to confirm his name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to a single charge of escape.
At the time of the alleged offence, he was on remand at HMP Wandsworth awaiting trial on three charges.
More on Daniel Abed Khalife
He is accused of leaving fake bombs at a military base, a charge under the Terrorism Act, and another under the Official Secrets Act, which alleges he committed “an act prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state”.
Read more UK news:
Bank of England maintains interest rate at 5.25%
Children taken to hospital after crash rips off bus roof
Hunt for ‘unidentified male’ after woman raped twice within days
Khalife was discharged from the army in May and appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink in July, denying the charges against him.
Mr Justice Baker joined the escape charge to those he was previously facing and said Khalife currently faces a four-week trial on 13 November at Woolwich Crown Court.
He was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance in court at the Old Bailey on 13 October.
