Soldier stabbed in Kent barracks attack named

25 July 2024 , 15:00

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He has served in multiple roles during his two dozen years of service

Police were called on Tuesday to reports of a serious assault in Gillingham which saw the victim, named locally as Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton, airlifted from the scene and taken to hospital

The armed forces staffer targeted in a daylight stabbing near a barracks in Kent is a lauded and long-serving colonel in the British Army.

The soldier stabbed multiple times near Brompton Barracks in Gillingham has been named as Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton, in his 40s, who was reportedly in uniform when he was attacked on Tuesday. The longtime course manager at the Royal School of Military Engineering received up to 12 stab wounds during the shock incident.

Lt Col Teeton joined the British Army in 2000, and was awarded a long service and good conduct medal after more than a dozen years of service in 2018. The colonel has served in multiple roles during his two dozen years of service, including two years at the Ministry of Defence, during which he worked as an engineering infrastructure planner and client’s representative.

The army hero, who is based in Rochester, is also a keen charity fundraiser and ran 44 miles on the 80th anniversary of D-Day to raise money for the charity Combat Stress. On his fundraising page, he touted the "vital strides" being taken by the organisation to help veterans. He wrote: "In honour of our forefathers as well as current servicemen who have bravely fought to protect our way of life, I will be taking on the D-Day Challenge to raise vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans."

"Combat Stress is the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. For over a century, they’ve helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict. I’m taking on D-Day Challenge to help take vital strides towards ensuring veterans can get the support they need."

The Lieutenant Colonel is also a keen charity fundraiser

Kent Police said the victim is in a stable but serious condition after he was airlifted from the scene, from where police retrieved a number of knives. It is understood that the army staffer was known to the suspect’s brother.

Police officers arrested one man in Mooring Road, Rochester, at 6.20pm, not long after they were called to the scene at 5.50pm on Tuesday. Anthony Esan, 24, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He appeared at Medway Magistrates Court on Thursday morning and has since been remanded in custody.

Officers set up cordons at the scene of the incident and arrest following the attack on Tuesday, with neighbours stating they saw a handcuffed man being led away by police. Sniffer dogs were also used on part of the road, with pictures from the scene showing lines of forensic officers combing the ground near where the attack took place.

Emma Davis