A man has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of an army officer who was stabbed “repeatedly” outside his barracks in Chatham, Kent.
Anthony Esan, 25, admitted trying to kill Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton in Sally Port Gardens near Brompton Barracks, headquarters of the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment in July 2024.
Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court via video-link from Broadmoor Hospital, Esan, dressed in a blue and white jumper, spoke only to enter pleas to the charges of attempted murder and possession of two bladed weapons.
Lt Col Teeton, who was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the attack, was in court for Thursday’s hearing.
At Medway Magistrates’ Court in 2024, prosecutor Rajni Prashar described how a member of the public called 999 “to report a male had been stabbed. It was then reported that the victim was a soldier in uniform”.
She told the court a man was seen “running up behind” the army officer before he “pulled the soldier to the ground”, stabbed him “repeatedly” and drove away on a moped.
Two knives were dropped at the scene, and a further three were found stored on the bike, the prosecutor said.
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Investigations into Esan’s mental health and fitness to plead have repeatedly delayed the case.
Esan, of Rochester, will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court next month.
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Lt Col Teeton is a chartered engineer working as a course manager in the Army’s Corps of Royal Engineers, according to a LinkedIn page, which shows he has worked in various roles in the armed forces dating back to 2001.
A GoFundMe page has raised almost £50,000 to support Lt Col Teeton and his family.
