A KNIFEMAN has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a soldier who was pulled to the ground outside his barracks and stabbed.
“Blood-curdling” screams were heard as Lt Col Mark Teeton was stabbed in Gillingham, Kent, Anthony Esan.
Esan, who was wielding two ten-inch blades, had ambushed the uniformed dad-of-two in July 2024 near Brompton Barracks.
He today pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possession of two bladed weapons.
Maidstone Crown Court heard Esan was seen “running up behind” the Army officer before he “pulled the soldier to the ground”.
He then stabbed him “repeatedly” as Lt Col Teeton’s wife rushed out of their home to help her husband.
The hero soldier managed to get back on his feet and stagger towards his house before the attacker launched into a second savage assault.
Lt Col Teeton was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition as Esan fled the scene on a motorbike.
He was arrested 24 hours later but the court process has been delayed amid investigations over Esan’s mental health and fitness to plead.
The attacker, who appeared in court from Broadmoor Hospital, will be sentenced from February 9 to 11.
Lt Col Teeton joined the Army 24 years ago and in 2018 was awarded a long service and good conduct medal.
He ran 44 miles on the 80th anniversary of D-Day to raise money for the Combat Stress charity.
A Gofundme page has raised almost £50,000 to support Lt Col Teeton and his family.
