he became embroiled in a serious pub attack following a row, which he later claimed was triggered by racism.

He lost his temper with Piers Mott, slashing him on his face and leaving an 8cm gash on his left cheek.

Mr Mott has since died, but his widow Heather recalled the incident.

"My husband was defending someone who was working for him," she said. "I don't know how it happened - Piers was just defending this guy."

Elms/Ajao was jailed for two years and spent time in HMP Lewis, Wayland and Ford. He never returned to live in the village.

This was the turning point in his life. Elms knew he was violent and dangerous - he pleaded guilty to the attack - and his partner left him. In prison, he began readingthe Koran, apparently encouraged by a visiting imam who may have been called Khalid. Adrian Ajao began the transition to Khalid Masood.

After his release from jail in the summer of 2001, he moved to Eastbourne - where a man who knew him as a casual acquaintance told the BBC Elms used both cocaine and bodybuilding steroids.

And he was still violent.

He was fined after assaulting a girlfriend - and in 2001 took part in a major pub fight.

"I first met him in a pub around Christmas Eve 2001," the former electrician told the BBC. "He was introduced as 'Black Ady'.

"Everyone who met him said he was really polite, but he was in a pub one night and two guys were playing pool.

"Something was said and he battered them both