Man admits knife attack on soldier near barracks

A man has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a uniformed Army officer in a "violent" knife attack outside a Kent barracks.

Anthony Esan, 25, "repeatedly" stabbed Lt Col Mark Teeton in Sally Port Gardens, near Brompton Barracks in Chatham, on 23 July 2024.

Esan was arrested near his home in Rochester about 25 minutes after the attack.

The case had been delayed several times over concerns around Esan's mental health and fitness to plead.

Esan appeared at Maidstone Crown Court via video-link from Broadmoor Hospital on Thursday.

He also admitted to the possession of two bladed weapons.

Teeton, who was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the attack, was there in court to hear the pleas.

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Rajni Prashar said a man was seen "running up behind" Teeton before he "pulled the soldier to the ground".

He stabbed him "repeatedly" and drove away on a moped, she continued.

Two knives were dropped at the scene and a further three were found stored on the bike, the prosecutor added.

Katie Samways, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Esan "carried out a violent attack on a member of our military who was simply walking along the street".

He has never given a reason for the attempted murder, she continued.

"Today he has finally... taken responsibility for his horrendous actions on that fateful day.

"None of us can imagine what the victim and his family have been through over the last 18 months.

"Our thoughts remain with them."

Brompton Barracks is the headquarters of the British Army's 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment.

Teeton is a chartered engineer working as a course manager in the Army's Corps of Royal Engineers, according to a LinkedIn page.

He was discharged from hospital in August, after undergoing emergency surgery.

An online fundraiser raised almost £50,000 to support him and his family.

The officer, who has worked in various roles in the armed forces since 2001, earlier thanked the "overwhelming" generosity of strangers who had donated towards his recovery.

"We took strength and comfort from all the messages when we had just been through the most horrific experience," he said.

"Our family cannot thank those people enough."

Esan is due to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court from 9-11 February.

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