Mum expressed fears over son who stabbed soldier

The mother of a man who tried to stab a uniformed Army officer to death outside a barracks believed he should not have been in the community, a court has heard.

Anthony Esan stabbed Lt Col Mark Teeton outside Brompton Barracks in Chatham on 23 July, 2024 and later admitted attempted murder over the attack.

Defending Esan, Richard Barraclough KC told a sentencing hearing that his mother also believed he had been influenced by horror movies and aggressive music.

Esan, from Rochester, is expected to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday.

The prosecution has argued that Esan targeted Teeton because of his appearance as a soldier.

Psychiatrist Professor Nigel Blackwood said Esan's attack was "psychosis driven" and that he "certainly has a severe mental disorder".

Blackwood was asked by prosecutor Alison Morgan KC if he believed Esan's account on not selecting a target was untruthful.

He said: "I don't believe him when he tells me it could have been anyone."

Esan had schizophrenia at the time of the attack, the court heard.

Bodycam footage of his arrest which was shown in court, shows Esan mentioning the devil and karma.

Esan also searched for TikTok videos of knife attacks, including "Woolwich soldier murdered", believed to be a reference to the murder of soldier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich barracks in 2013.

He had asked whether he was on the news following the attack, the court heard.

Teeton, a serving soldier for 26 years, described the stabbing as being like the attack on Lee Rigby, the hearing was told on Monday.

The case had been delayed several times amid concerns over Esan's mental health and fitness to plead, but he admitted the charge last month via video link from Broadmoor Hospital.

Two days after the attack, Esan told a doctor at Belmarsh prison that his brother was in the Army and they'd had an argument, so he had gone looking for an officer to attack, the court heard.

Later, he said it could have been anyone, the court was told.

Dr Saji Nabi, a consultant forensic psychiatrist who has been treating Esan at Broadmoor, said she thinks it is more likely he went out looking for a soldier to stab.

A third witness in forensic psychiatry, Dr Michael Alcock, recommended a hospital order be imposed on Esan.

The court heard the three experts agreed Esan was not insane, but they thought the main driver of his actions was psychosis.

Dr Alcock said his acts were based on "delusional reasoning" and "psychotic intent".

The sentencing continues.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.