A MAN who savagely murdered his friend in a cafe in a suspected drugs row has been locked up for at least 26 years.

Ayanle Adan, 26, of Pantile Avenue, Southend, slashed his victim's neck, causing an eight inch gash from his ear to his mouth, then with a knife in each hand, performed "a double slashing motion" which partially decapitated him.

Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, Judge Brian Barker QC said:

"You initiated a surprise attack when you were in no danger.

"This behaviour in public shows a complete disregard for human life."

Osman, 24, had been sitting in the back garden of the cafe in Streatham High Street with a group of friends, when Adan attacked him with two knives he had bought from a nearby Sainsbury's store.

Osman died at the scene last August.

Adan fled to a safe house in Streatham, organised by accomplice Ahmed Hassan, 25, also from Southend. The savage attack was caught on CCTV cameras and he was arrested three days later.

Adan has 18 previous convictions for 26 offences, including assault, vehicle theft, carrying knives, and the kidnap of a taxi driver.

He claimed that he was addicted to chewing stimulant plant khat, which is rated throughout much of the world in the same category as heroin and cocaine, but is legal in Britain.

During his trial, Adan also claimed that Osman had previously threatened him with a knife over £200 he was owed, but these claims were unsupported.

He said that the combination of a hangover and paranoia, a side effect of the drug, contributed to the attack.

He wanted to "show him" that he was equally capable of waving a knife in his face, but misjudged his actions. He consistently claimed that he had not intended to injure his victim.

Yet Adan pleaded guilty to murder and was immediately returned to custody, where he will serve a minimum of 26 years before being considered for release.

Judge Brian Barker QC said: "The real background to this killing may never fully emerge.

"For reasons beyond the understanding of the court, you initiated a surprise attack when you were in no danger.

"This was a planned killing, it was done in front of others, and it is totally unacceptable."

Co-defendant Ahmed Hassan bought the knives with Adan, but was found not guilty of the murder, as he was not present during the attack.