24/03/2017 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob Smith.

The Dartford-born killer, jailed for knife crime

in East Sussex, who brought terror to the heart of Westminster.

I'm in Northiam, where Khalid Masood was guilty

He used a Stanley knife on someone's face.

And I'm in Brighton where he spent his last night before

He was very friendly, smiling, and really there was nothing suspicious

about him, he just seem like a normal guest.

in Tunbridge Wells and stabbed a man in the face in Eastbourne.

We've got the latest reaction from both towns and Westminster.

30 years after Wendy Knell was murdered, her father's emotional

appeal for help to track down her killer, before

And on Red Nose Day, comedian Romesh Ranganathan's been

finding out how your Comic Relief money is spent.

The terrorist who killed four people in the heart of Westminster before

being shot dead himself by armed police was born in Dartford.

A father-of-three, Khalid Masood lived in towns and villages

across Kent and Sussex, racking up a string

He was given the name Adrian Russell Elms when he was born

taking his stepfather's surname, and went to school in

Tunbridge Wells, before receiving his first criminal

And after moving to East Sussex, he was sent to jail

in 2003, for stabbing a man in the face in Eastbourne.

Our Special Correspondent Colin Campbell has

the details of the South East criminal who converted to Islam

and brought jihadist terror to the heart of Westminster.

He lived in the heart of Sussex but went on to strike at the heart of

our democracy. He was like Jekyll Hyde. Those who knew Khalid Masood

say he was a deeply troubled and violent man. If he took umbrage

against someone for looking at him, he would fly off the handle. He got

a glass is going to hit the landlord. There was an incident

involved at this pub. It was a violent, seemingly unprovoked knife

attack by Khalid Masood, known back then as Adrian Elms, which brought

him notoriety in this village. It happened in 2000. It is much of

local businessmen across the face after a row erupted in the pub. He

used a Stanley knife on someone's face. He was an older man did not

deserve to be stabbed. Smiling at the camera at school in Tunbridge

Wells, this is Khalid Masood aged about 14. He was known to friends at

the time as Adrian Knell. He was a genuinely nice guy and I was upset

today to think he would have turned out the way he has. -- ageing Ajao.

And then what he has done to these poor families. It was so of

character for the guy that I knew nearly 40 years ago. Police are

looking at every detail of his life. Our investigation focus is on

understanding his motivation, his preparation and his associates. Fred

Lawrence told me he believed Khalid Masood was ripe for radicaliser

eight. Confused about his identity, skin colour, isolated and lonely. Do

you think he was vulnerable? Definitely. Because of his

mannerisms. He was halfway there. Halfway where? Well, to being

violent. From schoolboy to Westminster attacker, his complex

life has yet to reveal how he chose such a murderous path.

Colin, he was well known in the village pub in a violent offender?

We have lost the signal currently. Let's cross live to our reporter

Juliette Parkin in Brighton. Juliette, Khalid Masood

as he was latterly known, chose to spend his final night

in a hotel there, before he travelled to Westminster

to commit mass murder. He checked in your Tuesday and gave

his name as Khalid Masood. Staff said was nothing suspicious about

him and he appeared polite and friendly. He went to his room where

he stayed much of the time. It checks out on Wednesday before 8am.

Nobody saw him leave and he came to this car park to collect his car.

That same car that was used to call so much destruction in London. This

was the room where the London attacker Khalid Masood spent his

final night. He checked into the Preston Park Hotel at around 1pm on

Tuesday. Nobody here had any idea

what he was setting off to do. It is really shocking at the moment,

because obviously, we do not expect a nice person as he seemed to be

to be that kind of person. As a hotel, we do what

we can to take all the information we can,

and the police came yesterday and we were able

to provide them with all the

information they needed and thank The same car that had

been parked overnight in Brighton journeyed to

Westminster to do this. One of the last men

to see him alive runs a security company from

the He was polite, I noticed that comedy

came across as well spoken. Pleasant smile, a nice man.

Police swarmed on the hotel on Wednesday night and continue

their searches yesterday. Scary for us all to be so close

to a killer, a terrorist, yes. There was a lot of plainclothes

police in the dining room having talks and that they made

off with a fewer items. Police stripped the room out,

taking away many items, including the trouser press,

the kettle and even the toilet roll Staff were still cannot believe

that the day London was What was he doing here in Brighton?

He told the staff here that he was visiting friends. Now, we know this

city has a history of radicalisation with a number of younger men

travelling to Syria. But we do not know if he had any connections to

this city. I've spoken to the local Muslim Forum today and they said

they have spoken to all the imam as here and all of them recognised his

voice or his face. But they do know he spent another night to year, last

Friday, the 17th of March. Was he carrying out some sort of recce, or

had he planned to carry others London attacks sooner? Staff here

say they simply cannot believe they came so close to a killer.

What more do we know about the terrorist's South East links?

he moved to Tunbridge Wells, and spent time in Northiam,

He had a string of convictions between 1983 and 2003,

including assault, GBH and possession of

And he spent time behind bars at Lewes Prison in East Sussex

and Ford Open Prison in West Sussex, with some reports

claiming he was converted to radical extremist Islam

In a moment, we'll speak to Mark Norman in Tunbridge Wells,

but first our reporter Piers Hopkirk is live in Eastbourne.

There was a shocking act of violence there,

That's right. And not just one incident. Khalid Masood moved here

to Ashford Road sometime before 2003, following a stint in prison.

According to someone who knew him during his time here, he had a taste

for drugs and violence. Apparently beating two men with a snooker cue

following a brawl in a pub in the town. We also know he came across

the police -- on the police's raider in 2003 after stabbing a man in the

face in Eastbourne. This led to him being convicted in a few months

later of possession of a knife and he was sentenced to six months in

prison. Is left many wondering if it was that time in prison which led

him to be radicalised. Thank you. Our Correspondent Mark Norman

is in Tunbridge Wells now. He died as Khalid Masood,

at school he was Adrian Ajao. What more do we know

about his school days, That's right, Rob. He CABI the age

of 12 and went to school over there. The school has now been demolished.

He was one of only two micro black pupils among states and. But he was

well liked that I've spoken to fellow pupils and teachers today.

You will sport, academic and clever and also many people said he was

fun. They suggested he may have been easily led. Many of the pupils and

teachers only found out today the person they looked back on quite

fondly was actually responsible for the awful events we saw in

Westminster and they are shocked and a little upset. Thank you. We return

to Colin Campbell. Colin, Khalid Masood was known in the village

notoriously for violent acts? That's right. We understand he lived up to

1997 and 2000 and he was not a practising Muslim at the time and

people referred to him as Adrian. It was regarded as a violent and

aggressive individual involved in knife crime. After the knife attack

in this pub, he was given a two year jail term at Hove Crown Court.

During the proceedings, he claimed he had been provoked by a racist

insult that he claims was made to him. He also claimed that he had his

family have been ostracised from living in this village after the

incidents. But what we do know is that he was an individual with a

long list of criminal convictions and receive his first one when he

was 18 years old. Colin, thank you. The Conservative MP for Gillingham,

Rehman Chishti, is chairman of the Commons all-party group

on community engagement, a problem through your work as an MP

in the south east, with integration The reason was that it tied into the

vision of the Prime Minister and governments for all and as a result,

it was important to go out there and engage to all sections of our

community to ensure they can achieve their true potential and you can't

look at the challenges they may have and also ensure everyone is on the

same page of respecting our British values of tolerance, respect and

democracy and also, rule of law. Indeed. In terms of radicalisation,

the Southeast is a particularly notorious, we had a jihadi macro

terrorist from here in Brighton in recent years, but we are not

particularly known as other parts of the country for that. Do you think

there's a complacency in Government as a result about the Southeast? No,

not at all. We have a Government which is working at every level to

ensure the issues of radicalisation and extremism are dealt with and I

applaud the work of our intelligence agencies and the Metropolitan Police

and in particular, the fantastic work of our communities. I will

refer you to the Commons Assistant Police Commissioner who said it was

often members of the individual's owner community who alerted the

police authorities about their behaviour which allows the

authorities to then deal with that individual before they get sucked in

to violent extremism. That brings me neatly to my next question, which

was going to be out the radicalisation in prison of

vulnerable prisoners. We know that is a problem. Adrian Elms as he was

born was allegedly radicalised while in prison. What can we do about

that? There are a number of different ways in which somebody can

get drawn into this poison ideology. We have thoughts about prisons, but

equally, you have the issue of on the vine radicalisation and that the

same time you have hate preachers. And it was this Government which

deported Abu Hamza and others back out of this country and if we have

individuals in our great country who are not prepared to accept our

British values of tolerance and respect, then they should go and

live elsewhere and leave our great country to our great people and get

on with our lives. But you are right, there is a problem in

prisons, and we do not know for certainty that this individual was

radicalised in prison. But there is an issue with individuals were going

to prison, they may do so with a different faith and then they may

convert while in there too is. These individuals do really not know what

Islam is. But they are disillusioned, vulnerable and they

are manipulated and as a result they come out and at times are very

dangerous and that is why we have to come together to ensure that when we

see there were signs of these individuals in disillusioned,

disturbed or dangerous, we alert the authorities and it is not the

responsibility of saying somebody else should do it, we all have a

responsibility to alert the authorities, because we must all

work together. Thank you. This is In other news, a former teacher

from Brighton has been jailed for 12 been jailed for 12 years for sexual

offences against for pupils Martin Haigh was found guilty

of indecent assault and gross indecency against boys

between the ages of seven and 12. He committed the offences at

Ashdown House School in the 1970s. A meeting's taking place tonight

to campaign for improved broadband The Tonbridge Malling MP

Tom Tugendhat has invited internet providers to a "Broadband Summit"

in Leybourne to enable residents and businesses to question

them on poor service. The dying father of a Kent woman

who was raped and battered to death almost 30 years ago has made a final

appeal to her killer to give himself up, so that he can go

to his grave in peace. Wendy Knell's body

was was discovered in But despite police having

a full DNA profile of their prime suspect,

the case remains unsolved. Wendy's father Bill has terminal

cancer, and just weeks to live, 82-year-old Bill Knell is trying one

last time to urge his daughter's 25-year-old Wendy Knell was raped

and battered to death in Tunbridge W Mr Knell now has just weeks

to live and would like to go to his grave with

the answers to questions that have haunted him

for Well, he's only got

a very short time left. And he would like to

know before he goes. I would love to get them

to sort it pronto, shall Although it's been almost

30 years since Wendy's body was discovered

her bedsit here in Tunbridge Wells, officers say they have not given up

They formally linked death to the murder

of a second young woman, Caroline Pearce.

Caroline Pierce was murdered just five months after Wendy.

Like Wendy, she also worked in the shop

Both women had keys and key rings stolen, and Kent

Police has a full DNA profile of their main suspects,

We're not going to rest until we bring to justice the

person or persons responsible for these murders.

I know this was 30 years ago, but somebody may have had

their suspicions at the time or maybe just recently found out.

Mr and Mrs Knell are not giving up hope.

Though realistically speaking, Mr Knell

thinks it is unlikely he will learn who murdered his daughter in his

This is our top story tonight: Terrorist Khalid Masood,

who killed four people in Westminster, was born in Dartford

as Adrian Elms and went to school in Tunbridge Wells.

He'd lived in various parts of Kent and Sussex,

racking up a string of convictions for violent crime.

Cannes - Venice - Ramsgate - how a new international film

and it is a fine and dry weekend ahead. A chilly breeze despite the

sunshine. Join me later. Today is the annual Red Nose Day,

raising money for charity, and thanks to your generosity,

over the last year the South East has raised

and donated more than one point As well as going to good causes

abroad, that money has included 41 Comic Relief

grants to projects here totalling nearly half

a million pounds. One of the Kent charities

that benefits is "4us2", which is run by parents and carers

of disabled children. For tonight's Special Report,

Ian Palmer met up with Sussex comedian Romesh Ranganathan,

who's visited the charity to see The charity 4us2 in Sittingbourne is

home to more than six and parents and their children, with additional

needs. Hello legs the comedian miner could not resist the temptation of

the inflatable sensory dome. It sounds like Santa, but you'll be

disappointed. ?1.3 million was raised for Red Nose Day in the

south-east. Nearly half ?1 million of it is being spent in the region.

Some of that money is being used here for parents and children who

otherwise would have nowhere else to go. If your child has challenging

behaviour, you might not want to go to the supermarket. You might not

want to engage and go to such groups. It can be very isolating and

you can feel to a certain extent that you have passed over. That's

wicked! I love it in there. Joe Evans is a mother of five, three who

have additional needs. They make you feel welcome and they understand,

because they are in the same boat. Claire Glover has cerebral palsy and

her six-year-old son as attention deficit disorder.

Outside of school, he doesn't have any friends like him. So they are

kids come here and go lose him play sessions and you can have a cuppa

tea and chat to other parents about what is involved and what the

challengers. It is a hugely valuable thing for them to have. And just

walking around and seeing how much it means to the parents, it is a

real eye-opener. The charity has another centre in East Kent with

your continued support, the aim is to be more of them in the Southeast.

-- to open more of them in the Southeast.

Well, you've been letting us know what you've been doing to raise

Here's twins Abbie and Owen on their way to school at Ulcombe

was ready for a Red Nose Day school trip to Wingham Wildlife Park.

And Varndean School in Brighton raised nearly ?4,000

with their sponsored goat race with their five pygmy

goats named Alan, Ethel, William, Bertie and Maya.

From Cannes to Venice to Sundance in Utah,

film festivals have the most glamorous of images.

The town's first ever International Film

and Television Festival may be starting small, but the organisers

Over the weekend film-makers from around the world

will showcase their work on the big and small screen.

Sara Smith is live in Ramsgate where things are just about to get

Yes, we are here at the Granville Theatre and people are arriving and

now brought the red carpet indoors because it is chilly. Tonight, it is

a screening of a film shot here in Ramsgate and across the weekend at

venues across the town are various screenings all open to the public.

Many are free. A real celebration of independent cinema.

Imagine a film festival and is possibly the glamour and glitz that

springs to mind. And if you Ramsgate can't compete with that, well, nor

would it want to. Founded, as many know, is quite happy to do things

its own way. Opening proceedings tonight, a film not just shot here,

but storing the woman who came up with the idea for the whole

festival. I don't know. College teacher's instinct. In this area,

there are another many opportunities to see for that aren't blockbusters.

But there are many independent movies, so that's what people can

see it, movies from different countries. V Festival's trailer

shows, there's a huge variety on offer and the eight feature phones

and 20 shores that will be shown over the weekend. You think is about

as patron and clearly looking forward to it, that actress blender

Blethyn, born and bred here in Ramsgate. -- Brenda Blethyn. It is

exciting. They've got submissions from all over the place, India,

Australia, Canada, Japan. It is so exciting. And of course lots of

home-grown stuff. It may be its first year, but organisers have

already got grand ambitions. They want to be Ramsgate on the map as

somewhere not just to see, but also to create great phones. OK, get

ready for the first annual stations of sin alleycat race! Won alleycat

is set in the world of Chicago's bike messengers. I spoke to its

director why she had chosen Ramsgate. I choose based on location

and I got a feeling about the area and is very charming and

organisation of the festival seemed impressive. Especially considering

it is their first year. They seemed to have everything together. Words

which will no doubt delight organisers of the festival gets

underway. After a weekend of screenings and talks, Sunday night

is prize-giving at night and the award for the best feature film,

well, that has been inspired by the town and it is is bronze anchor

sculpted right here in Ramsgate. Now let's go back to

tonight's top story. in the heart of Westminster,

was a father-of-three, born in Dartford as Adrian Elms

who'd lived in towns and villages across Kent and Sussex,

racking up a string We must come together to ensure me

see the signs of disturbed or dangerous individuals, we alert the

authorities. It is not the responsibility of saying somebody

else should do it, we all have a responsibility, because we are all

in it together and must work together.

Our Special Correspondent Colin Campbell is live in Northiam,

where Khalid Masood was known as Adrian Ajao

You have been investigating his background today and have come up

with quite a disturbing picture, haven't you? Yes, he lived in

locations across the Southeast and was born and bred in Kent and

Sussex. He lived here for several years and locals regarded him as a

dangerous, aggressive and violent individual. Another non-practising

Muslim who liked to get drunk. He was also involved in night -- knife

crime. Yet carried out a knife attack in his pub and given a two

year jail term and during the proceedings come he claimed he'd

been provoked with a racist insult and also claims his family had been

ostracised after the incident. We know he was a deeply troubled man.

Thank you. We have lots of dry weather and

sunshine, but he will be quite chilly with a cold easterly wind.

Today was an improving picture. We began with a fair amount of cloud

and here was the scene taken this morning in East Sussex. Fairly

cloudy, but by the afternoon, the sunshine reappeared for many others.

This is how it was looking in Kent. As we head through the rest of the

evening and overnight, we have clear and dry conditions out there and

with the blanket of cloud, those temperatures dropping down quickly,

so a chilly night ahead of most of us by the time they get a Saturday,

temperatures will be about 5-6 away from the coast, but a bit colder in

a few places. Perhaps a slight touch ground frost for probe spots, but

Saturday looks like a fine and dry day, blue skies and sunshine and it

will feel quite chilly, particularly in North and East of Kent.

Elsewhere, we can see 12-14 C, but the biting wind does continue.

Through Saturday night into Sunday, it is dry and clear once again.

Probably not as cold by the time they get to Sunday and temperatures

are holding up at around 6-8 . Sunday looks like a fine day.

Similar to Saturday. It is dry, lots of sunshine out there, a Beer Wall

cloud building, but that biting, easterly wind will fade away and

temperatures around 11-13 . The dry and settled weather continues into

the new working week. Lots of dry weather, but quite chilly over the

next couple of days. We are back at 10:30pm. Have a good

week. Goodbye.