Soldier compared Chatham barracks stabbing to Lee Rigby attack

A soldier who was attacked and stabbed multiple times while wearing his military uniform outside a barracks drew parallels between the assault and the 2013 murder of Lee Rigby, a court was told. The incident took place near Brompton Barracks in Chatham on 23 July 2024, involving Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton as the victim. Anthony Esan, aged 25, admitted to attempting to murder Teeton during proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Teeton sustained severe injuries requiring emergency surgery, though he was eventually discharged from hospital. Teeton, who serves as the chief instructor at the British Army’s School of Military Engineering, was targeted while dressed in full uniform, including his boots and beret. The prosecution asserted that the assault was a “vicious and deliberate” attack motivated by his identity as a soldier. Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC emphasized the severity of the wounds, stating, “The fact that these wounds were not fatal was nothing short of miraculous.”

The attack unfolded when Teeton was returning from the barracks at approximately 17:50 BST and was approached by Esan, who requested to use his phone, claiming his moped had broken down. The court was told this was a false pretense designed to distract and disarm Teeton. While the soldier was concerned about the potential theft of his phone, Esan launched the attack. Witnesses described the scene as deeply distressing, with Teeton’s wife, Eileen, responding swiftly when she heard cries for help. She intervened bravely as Esan stabbed her husband, reportedly pushing a knife toward Teeton’s face and neck in a manner described by Mrs. Teeton as if “he was trying to carve Mark’s face.”

The court also heard details about Esan’s preparations prior to the attack. The day before, he was seen scouting the location on his moped “looking for a target.” On the morning of the assault, Esan watched a documentary about Kyle Rittenhouse, a figure acquitted in a high-profile US shooting case. Evidence uncovered from Esan’s bedroom included packaging for “Rambo” knives, and he later pleaded guilty to possessing two bladed weapons. The prosecution highlighted Esan’s online activity, which included searches on knife attacks, a terrorist incident in West Africa, and specifically the 2013 murder of Lee Rigby.

Esan, originally from Nigeria, moved to the UK in 2009 and lived in Southwark, London. He had previously made several unsuccessful attempts to enlist in the Army, starting in 2020. That year, he was referred to mental health services after exhibiting signs of illness and reporting auditory hallucinations. During sentencing, Teeton expressed his shock and trauma, saying, “I did not imagine for a moment I would be attacked in such a way on the streets of Britain.” He noted that medical professionals considered his survival a “miracle” given the extensive wounds he suffered across multiple parts of his body. The attack has left him cautious and wary of strangers, profoundly impacting his life after 26 years of military service, including deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The case has experienced delays due to concerns over Esan’s mental health and his fitness to plead. He admitted the charge last month via video link from Broadmoor Hospital. Sentencing is ongoing

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