Simon Jones
Reporting from court

The judge is currently summing up the evidence from the three psychiatrists.

The court has heard Esan believed he was in a film or a game at the time of the attack.

His mother said he spent a lot of time watching violent movies or games.

The judge adds the 25-year-old was experiencing "grandiose delusions".

He also says there was no "obvious motive" as to why he stabbed Lt. Col. Mark Teeton.

Three experts have said Esan was not insane, but told the court they think the main driver of his actions was psychosis.

The trio agreed the 25-year-old had schizophrenia when he stabbed Lt Col Mark Teeton in 2024.

Professor Nigel Blackwood told Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday he did not believe Esan when he said his target could have been anyone.

He added Esan had "deliberately chosen an Army officer to enact his psychosis".

Dr Saji Nabi, a consultant forensic psychiatrist who had been treating Esan at Broadmoor Hospital, also said he thought it was likely Esan went looking for a soldier to stab.

Recommending a hospital order be imposed on him, Dr Michael Alcock added Esan remained symptomatic and he did not believe he would ever fully recover.

He said Esan's acts were based on “delusional reasoning” and “psychotic intent”.

Anthony Esan maintains culpability for the attempted murder of Lt Col Mark Teeton, says the judge.

"He knew he was attacking his man - and that he would hurt him by stabbing him," the judge adds.

However, Mr Justice Picken says there is "clear evidence" he had been unwell for a number of years.

Simon Jones
Reporting from court

Both the prosecution and defence admit this is a complex case.

The judge, Mr Justice Picken, asked for some extra time to consider what sentence to impose.

We had initially expected the sentence to be handed down on Wednesday.

The options open to him are: a prison sentence, a hospital order or a hybrid hospital order - which ensures treatment while guaranteeing Esan would be sent to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence if he were to recover.

Image source, PA Media

Anthony Esan has pleaded guilty to trying to murder a uniformed army officer, but who is he?

The 25-year-old was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK in 2009, living in the London borough of Southwark.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that he had made unsuccessful attempts to join the Army in the years before the stabbing in the summer of 2024.

He first applied in 2020, but was rejected because of eczema and a nut allergy.

That same year he appeared to be mentally unwell and reported hearing voices, the court heard.

Esan applied again in 2021, but was rejected because of a "psychotic disorder" and eczema.

Further appeals against his rejection to join the armed forces were abandoned and withdrawn.

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

Simon Jones
Reporting from court

The judge says it was miraculous that Lt Col Teeton did not die.

"This was a most appalling attack on a serving soldier," he says. "The horror of the attack was unimaginable."

Simon Jones
Reporting from court

There is silence in court as the judge begins his sentencing remarks.

Esan is staring straight ahead.

Simon Jones
Reporting from court

Anthony Esan has arrived in Court 6 at Maidstone Crown Court from Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital.

He is flanked by several security officers.

He has shown no emotion during the previous hearings.

He has admitted the attempted murder of Lt Col Mark Teeton.

The judge must now decide on what sentence to impose.

The court has heard from three psychiatrists who said Esan was psychotic at the time of the attack.

They believe it was unlikely the stabbing would have occurred had he not been unwell.

The prosecution have claimed the attack was vicious and deliberate, and Esan has sought out a target near the barracks in Chatham.

Simon Jones
Reporting from court

Lt Col Mark Teeton is in Maidstone Crown Court to hear the sentencing.

He knows he is lucky to be alive.

The 48-year-old said on Monday in a victim-impact statement: "I did not imagine for a moment that I would be attacked in such a way on the streets of Britain, in a place where I felt safe.

"I was told by the medical staff that it was a miracle I had survived. I had pain all over my body.

"I still relive the incident in my mind," he continued.

"I actually think it is a blessing that I was unconscious for much of it as it means that I am unable to remember a large part of being attacked."

Image source, Mark Teeton/Facebook

Lt Col Mark Teeton was stabbed by Anthony Esan in 2024.

However, who is he?

Teeton told Maidstone Crown Court that he was a chief instructor at the British Army's School of Military Engineering when the attack happened.

The 48-year-old was walking back from the Brompton Barracks - the British Army's 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment HQ - in a uniform, boots and beret when he was stabbed.

He said in court he has been a serving officer for 26 years, and after the attack had moved to new accommodation within the barracks.

Teeton has been on four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reading out a victim-impact statement to the court, he said he still relived the incident in his mind and was now "wary" of others approaching him.

"I actually think it was a blessing that I was unconscious for much of it," he said.

He became emotional as he paid tribute in court to the "heroes", including his wife, who came to his aid.

Teeton said he would be "forever in gratitude".

Anthony Esan attacked Lt Col Mark Teeton with two knives near Brompton Barracks in Chatham on 23 July 2024.

The 25-year-old stabbed the uniformed soldier repeatedly and drove away on a moped.

Esan was arrested by Kent Police near his home in Rochester about 25 minutes later, where packaging for two Rambo knives was recovered from his bedroom.

Teeton survived the attack - which his wife and child witnessed - although he was severely injured.

An online fundraiser raised almost £50,000 to support him and his family.

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

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

Esan pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possession of two bladed weapons at Maidstone Crown Court on 8 January.

The case had been delayed several times amid concerns over his mental health and fitness to plead.

His sentencing began on Monday.

Image source, PA Media

Anthony Esan, who pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a uniformed Army officer in a knife attack outside a Kent barracks, is due to be sentenced.

Esan, 25, repeatedly stabbed Lt Col Mark Teeton with two knives in Sally Port Gardens, near Brompton Barracks in Chatham, on 23 July 2024.

Esan was arrested near his home in Rochester about 25 minutes after the attack.

The case had been delayed several times over concerns around Esan's mental health and fitness to plead before he pleaded guilty last month.

The hearing at Maidstone Crown Court is expected to start at 11:00 GMT, and our reporters in court will be bringing you the key details.

Mr Justice Simon Picken will deliver sentencing remarks later. Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments.