Knifeman too mentally ill to plead over army hero stabbing horror

Anthony Esan, the 25-year-old man accused of the attempted murder of a senior British Army officer near Brompton Barracks in Gillingham, remains unfit to enter a plea owing to severe mental health difficulties, Maidstone Crown Court was told today.

Esan, whose full name is Anthony Abayomi Esan, date of birth 12 March 2000, of Mooring Road, Rochester, appeared via video link from Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital for what was intended to be his arraignment on charges of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

The alleged attack took place at approximately 6pm on 23 July 2024 when Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton, then aged 47, was repeatedly stabbed as he walked with his wife along Sally Port Gardens, only minutes from the Royal School of Military Engineering.

Prosecutors allege Esan, riding a moped, carried out the near-fatal assault before fleeing the scene.

He was arrested around 30 minutes later.

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Richard Barraclough KC, defending, informed Judge Julian Smith that, despite ongoing treatment, his client is still unable to understand the proceedings sufficiently to plead or instruct counsel.

A consultant forensic psychiatrist from Broadmoor confirmed the current assessment that Esan lacks the capacity to participate effectively in his trial.

After hearing submissions from both defence and prosecution, the judge ruled that no plea would be taken today, nor would the court enter a plea on the defendant’s behalf.

The case had originally been listed for trial in January 2025 but has been repeatedly vacated due to the same psychiatric issues.

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Judge Smith, who has previously described the matter as one “of the utmost importance – obviously extremely serious and grave”, emphasised the necessity of preserving the present fixture.

A High Court judge will preside when the trial eventually proceeds.

It is now fixed to commence on 2 February 2026 at Maidstone Crown Court, with a further pre-trial review scheduled for 8 January 2026.

Lieutenant Colonel Teeton, a father of two, was discharged from hospital four weeks after sustaining multiple stab wounds.

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He remains in service.

Esan has been in custody or under hospital orders since his first court appearance shortly after the incident.

Today’s brief hearing lasted less than fifteen minutes, underscoring the continuing impasse caused by the defendant’s mental state.

The case will return to court in the new year for final confirmation that the long-delayed trial can at last go ahead.