Man admits knife attack on soldier near barracks

A man has pleaded guilty to trying to murder a uniformed Army officer in a knife attack outside the soldier's barracks in Kent.

Anthony Esan, 25, admitted to the attempted murder of Lt Col Mark Teeton, who he stabbed "repeatedly" 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.

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

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

Teeton, who is in his 40s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the attack.

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

The army officer 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."

Teeton was discharged from hospital in August.