Wellwishers have donated thousands of pounds to a charity fundraising page launched by an Army officer who was repeatedly stabbed in a street attack as he remains in hospital in a ‘serious but stable condition’.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton is still receiving active medical treatment after he was set upon by a knife-wielding assailant outside his home in Gillingham, Kent, on Tuesday evening.
The 47-year-old, who has served in the Armed Forces for 24 years, was wearing his uniform 200 metres from Brompton Barracks when he was attacked by a moped rider.
Now a fundraising page for charity Combat Stress, an organisation which supports veterans’ mental health, set up by Lt Col Teeton has reached more than £8,000.
The soldier took part in the D-Day challenge to raise money, which consists of either a 22-mile walk, a 22-mile run or a 44-mile ultra-run on the beaches of Normandy, ending at Pegasus Bridge.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton pictured with his wife Eileen, who may have saved his life by running out to pull his attacker away
Anthony Esan arrives at Medway Magistrates’ Court in Chatham, Kent, where he is charged with the attempted murder of Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton
The solider has far exceeded his target, so far raising more than £8,500
He had originally set a target of raising £1,750 but with the help of celebrity support, donations have soared to more than £8,500.
The page has been widely shared online, including by comedian Al Murray, a long time supporter of the Armed Forces.
Taking to social media, Mr Murray wrote: ‘Lt Col Mark Teeton RE ran in aid of @CombatStress for the D-Day 80th anniversary.
‘Here’s the link to sponsor him and show support at this horrendous time for him and his family.’
After the horror attack, Lt Col Teeton’s wife Eileen rushed from their house to his aid, with witnesses describing how she tackled the man who was stabbing her husband, likely saving his life in the process.
Last night the father-of-two remained in hospital, with Army sources claimed that despite no change in his condition being expected in the coming days, in the long term is hoped he will return to work.
The father-of-two completed the D-Day challenge in Normandy earlier this year to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings
Lt Col Mark Teeton is reported to have joined the Army 24 years ago and has been awarded a long service and good conduct medal
Anthony Esan being led into Medway Magistrates Court this morning (left) and leaving (right) after being charged with the attempted murder of Lt Col Teeton
Police on the scene of an alleged attack on a British Army officer in Gillingham on Tuesday evening
The highly-respected officer had reached the same rank as his older brother Andy in the same corps, before becoming a course manager at the Royal School for Military Engineering, which is based at Brompton Barracks.
He was officially named yesterday as family, friends and neighbours paid tribute to him and his wife.
It came as a 24-year-old man appeared at Medway Magistrates Court in Chatham charged with attempted murder.
Antony Esan, of Rochester, confirmed his name but challenged the magistrate over why he should provide his date of birth. He confirmed the information when pressed by district judge Stephen Leake.
Prosecutor Rajni Prashar said a man was seen running up behind a soldier, pulling him to the ground and stabbing him with a ‘large knife or machete’.
Ms Prashar added: ‘He [the assailant] got on to a moped and drove off. Witnesses took down the registration number and it was traced.’
She said police found a set of kitchen knives in a black cardboard box on the moped. Two of them had been used. Three were still inside protective sleeves, suggesting they had not been used.
Esan did not enter a plea. He was remanded in custody until August 22 when he will appear at Maidstone Crown Court. His barrister said his client’s fitness to stand trial will be assessed by psychiatrists.
Lt Col Teeton, a course manager for the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment for almost six years, ran 44 miles just last month to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day and to raise money for veterans’ mental health support
Lt Col Teeton in his military uniform with his wife. He is believed to have been walking in a military uniform when he was attacked
A sketch of Anthony Esan, 24 (right), in court today accompanied by police officers. He is yet to enter pleas to the charges of attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon
Forensic officers have been at an address in nearby Rochester, where a man was arrested and subsequently charged with attempted murder
Mrs Teeton was a member of an Army wives’ choir and once appeared on the ITV chat show Lorraine alongside other military mums.
She is also a stalwart of the Armed Forces community in Medway, where her highly-respected husband belongs to the Royal School for Military Engineering at Brompton Barracks.
According to Army sources Mrs Teeton has been at her husband’s side throughout his career, enduring the challenges that come with being a services wife.
But nothing could possibly have prepared her for the horror that confronted her on Tuesday evening.
Her anguished cries were inadvertently recorded on a neighbour’s doorbell camera. ‘What are you doing?’ she screamed.
Then she turned and appealed for help, telling passers-by that her husband, who was wearing his uniform, had been stabbed and could bleed to death.
Last night friends said Mrs Teeton was a ‘lovely lady’, who is part of the Brompton and Invicta Military Wives Choir.
She appeared on ITV to discuss belonging to a services choir four years ago. A Facebook post from the time paid tribute to ‘Our amazing Eileen – you were fabulous! We are so proud of you!’
Mrs Teeton is also a familiar face at the local community centre and could be relied upon to support other Army families. And her husband is as respected as he is popular, the Mail has been told, prioritising the welfare of personnel and veterans.
Earlier this year he ran 44 miles on the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy to raise £3,000 for military charity Combat Stress.
