he wasn't.

He lunged at Mr Smith and plunged a knife through his nose. It went through the palate of his mouth, his tongue and into his jawbone.

Masood was arrested and charged with attempted murder. DC Black recalled that during the interview, the suspect was "extremely confident to the point of cocky".

Masood was born Adrian Russell Elms in Dartford, Kent on Christmas Day 1964

His mother married a man with the surname Ajao in 1966. Masood called himself Adrian Russell Ajao, one of a number of identities he had over the years. His family moved around during his youth, settling in Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Masood went to Huntleys Secondary School for Boys in the town, which closed in 1992. A classmate said he was a popular pupil who "liked to party",was a good sportsman and an "all-round nice guy" with lots of friends

His criminal career dated back to 1983, shortly after he left school. Scotland Yard said he had convictions for assault, grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon, which led to time behind bars at Lewes Prison in East Sussex, Wayland Prison in Norfolk and Ford open prison in West Sussex

Masood then spent two years teaching English in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, between 2005-6 and 2008-9

Returning to the UK, he most recently lived in Birmingham, but has also spent time in Luton, Sussex and London

At trial, he claimed self defence and was acquitted. The judge, according to accounts, was amazed.

Despite a six-month sentence for the additional offence of carrying the weapon, the attacker had to