WESTMINSTER attacker Khalid Masood had a violent past, dreamed of killing and may have been radicalised in a Sussex jail - former friends have said.

Extremist Masood left three others dead and dozens injured in his 82-second rampage last Wednesday, but he already had a reputation for violence living in Eastbourne in the early 2000s.

Eastbourne father of two Danny Smith, 35, was left needing cosmetic surgery after Masood, then still known as Adrian Elms, stabbed him in the face 14 years ago.

Talking about the attack Mr Smith said: “I don’t know what path his life took for him to end up carrying out a terror attack in the heart of London.

“But back in 2003 he tried to end my life. We’d met in the pub and we got on really well. But we had a small falling-out.

“He came back out with the knife and punched me.

“The handle hit my forehead and the knife went straight through my nose, my mouth and my tongue.

“There was so much blood it was like someone had turned a tap on from my face.

“He was still behind me shouting ‘I’m going to kill you’. But I ran and ran and he eventually stopped following.”

“He was a dangerous, dangerous man.

“He was one of the nastiest pieces of work I’ve ever come across.”

Lee Lawrence - who lived near Masood in Northiam - said his former friend had told him he dreamed of killing as far back as 2000.

Speaking to a national newspaper Mr Lawrence, who still lives in the village, near Rye, said: “He started saying, ‘What have I done, what am I doing? I’m getting help. I just want blood, I dream about killing someone’.”

Mr Lawrence said he also believed Masood had converted to Islam while in prison.

Masood was sentenced to two years in prison for a knife attack on Piers Mott in the car park of the Crown and Thistle pub in Northiam,in July 2000. He spent time in both Lewes and Ford prisons.

He said: “It was while he was inside that Ade turned to Islam.

“I only saw him once when he came out of prison. He was driving through the village, saw me and put his finger against his throat and made a slashing gesture.

“He loved scaring people. He got off on being the hard man.

“He wasn’t stupid. He was very articulate and intelligent.

“But when he got angry he would just snap and became a different person. It was terrifying.”

His abrupt religious conversion will fuel concerns about the rising threat of criminals being brought under the influence of hardened Jihadists while in prison.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national co-ordinator for UK counter-terrorism policing, said officers were working to establish whether Masood was “a lone actor inspired by terrorist propaganda or if others have encouraged, supported or directed him”.

He added: “Whilst the attack lasted only 82 seconds it will remain in the memories of many forever.”

“We must all accept that there is a possibility we will never understand why he did this. That understanding may have died with him.”

Masood’s victims included PC Keith Palmer, US tourist Kurt Cochran and his wife Melissa who were on the last day of a trip celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Mr Cochran was killed and Mrs Cochran was badly injured.

Aysha Frade, believed to be a 43- year-old married mother of two, also died, along with retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes.

Two people remain in hospital in a critical condition, one with life-threatening injuries.