By James Simons-
A man who repeatedly stabbed a uniformed army officer with two knives has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of seven years and 162 days- but will be detained in hospital for as long as is necessary, following the section 45 order by the judge. The judge said he would return to prison when he is well enough to do so. Anthony Esan, 25, who was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court, had pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possessing two bladed weapons in January.
Esan, who experts agree had schizophrenia at the time of the attack , targeted Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton in the street near Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent, in July 2024, told the three day sentencing hearing on Monday he was grateful to be alive.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
The assault left him with a large wound to the right side of his neck, stab wounds to the front and back of his chest and abdomen, his lower abdomen, right groin, right upper arm and left thigh.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC called Esan’s 2024 attack “vicious and deliberate”, and told the court that Lt Col Teeton had been targeted because of his appearance as a soldier.
The court heard that Esan had conducted online searches on knives, a terrorist attack that happened in West Africa and searched “Woolwich soldier murdered”, which Ms Morgan said was a reference to the 2013 attack.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
Ms Morgan said Esan had asked Lt Col Teeton if he could borrow his phone because his moped had broken down and he needed to call for assistance.
Speaking outside the court, he said: “We welcome the sentence that has been handed to my attacker today as it reflects an incredible bank of evidence gathered by the police and presented by our barrister of the premeditation and planning involved in the attack against myself, an officer wearing British military uniform.
“Knife attacks do not just impact the victim, they impact the families and communities where attacks occur.
“We feel the pain caused by every knife attack that we see on the news, and our thoughts will always be with those affected.”
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton and his wife Eileen speaking to the media outside Maidstone Crown Court. Pic: PA
Lt Col Teeton, a serving officer for 26 years who has been on two tours in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan, praised those who helped him, including his wife Eileen, for their “courage”.
In her victim impact statement, Mrs Teeton said her husband asked her in hospital if people at work knew what he “tried to do to me”.
When she asked what Esan had tried to do, he replied: “Cut my head off. Like Lee Rigby.”
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar