Married head who fathered love child with teacher attacked deputy with spanner after becoming embroiled in love triangle
A MARRIED head who fathered a love child with a teacher attacked his deputy with a spanner after becoming embroiled in a love triangle.
Dr Anthony John Felton launched into the savage attack when he discovered his lover was also having affairs with other members of staff.
The married 54-year-old battered deputy head Richard Pyke with the tool at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Port Talbot, South Wales.
Richard, 51, was rushed to hospital with head injuries following the attack, which was captured on the school’s CCTV.
Felton has now been jailed for two years and four months after he admitted attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas said: “Mr Pyke thought he was your friend. Your victim.
“He was struck from behind having been lured by you into what was in effect an ambush.
“The psychological, emotional and professional impact on him was profound.”
Swansea Crown Court heard there was “unique background” to the case.
The pair had been friends for several years but had become entangled in a love triangle.
Felton had recently fathered a love child with a teacher and believed Richard was also having an affair with her.
On March 5, he lured his colleague into a room and told him to read an email – meaning his back was turned.
He was captured on camera taking the spanner from his pocket and repeatedly battering Richard without any warning.
Richard, who had been facing away from the headteacher, was then seen desperately trying to wrench the weapon away from Felton.
The thug shouted out “you know what you’ve done” and accused him of sleeping with his lover.
The violent assault only came to an end when a staff member rushed in – causing Felton to calm down.
Richard suffered swelling to the back of the scalp, a headache, nausea and dizziness in the attack.
Shortly after the attack, the headteacher emailed colleagues saying: “Dear staff, the greatest mistake I made was appointing ******* ******* in various roles.
“She has slept her way to the top, currently engaging in sexual activity with at least 2 current members of the SLT (School Leadership Team) including Richard Pyke.
“I’m sorry for the distress the rest of the day will bring. I am sorry.
“You are good people and do an amazing job for our community.
“Goodbye, John”
In a victim impact statement, Richard said Felton abused his “complete trust” to “manoeuvre me into a position of utter vulnerability.
He added: “I am still in freefall from the trauma of this. I thought the lights were falling in on me when the first blows struck me on the back of the head.
“I remember asking you several times: ‘What are you doing John?’
“Before realising my only hope was to yell for help. In the moments of debilitating flashbacks I still have I sob the same question: how could you do something like that?
“In the immediate aftermath I was completely bewildered by what you’ve done. I know now that was the real you. I didn’t see that until it was almost too late which terrifies me still.
“My emotions swung wildly, I developed a stutter. The impact of your attack will be with me forever. “
Richard also told how he is still “haunted” by the attack and has been unable to return to work.
Felton was appointed head at the 900-pupil school in 2023 after being running the maths department for 17 years.
His own barrister, John Hipkin KC, said the horror was a “spectacular fall from grace to say the least”.
As well as a jail sentence, an indefinite restraining order was issued.