Bulgarian Deyan Deyanov tried to kill a man with a rock just months before he beheaded British grandmother Jennifer Mills-Westley, according to reports in the British media.

Security guard Fermin Suarez Perez, 45, claims he has been smashed in the face by the demented man on the island of Tenerife.

"I've no doubt he meant to kill me. He hit me in the mouth with a rock, leaving three of my teeth dangling. I said, 'What are yon doing you madman'. He then crouched down on all fours like an animal and ran off," Fermin said.

Police has revealed that Deyanov, 28, was on bail for that attack and had been arrested three times since January – but was freed to murder Jennifer, 60, in Los Cristianos last Friday.

He was nicked when he punched a man walking a dog, and for breaking a bank window.

Deyanov was finally freed and told to report to the court every fortnight but failed to do so.

A warrant for his arrest was issued only three days before he killed shopper Jennifer, 60, from Norwich, in a store at the resort.

The revelation has intensified the row over why the man has been released.