Head who attacked deputy with spanner over shared mistress ‘goals of apologising’
A Catholic school headmaster jailed for assaulting his deputy in a jealous rage over a shared affair is now revealing his side of the explosive scandal
A headmaster who attacked his deputy after discovering they had both been having an affair with the same woman has spoken out for the first time since he was jailed.
Dr Anthony John Felton, 54, was sentenced for two years and four months for his assault on the third member of his love triangle, colleague and deputy, Richard Pyke,from the same Catholic High School in Wales.
Felton launched his assault on Mr Pyke, 51, wielding the metal spanner after discovering he had fathered a fellow teacher’s child and was romantically involved with the same colleague. The duo had maintained a friendship and professional relationship spanning 15 years.
The child and affair had been a secret from his wife, Maria prior to the attack but the discovery sent him into a furious, jealousy fuelled rage.
Felton even apologised in advance to his colleagues with an emotional note before he launched his deputy, Mr Pyke. Felton also accused his lover of ‘sleeping her way to the top’ via email.
Felton has since expressed his shame he feels because of the attack, which saw him lose his career, marriage, lover, child and freedom.
Felton has since been released after six months of his sentence in HMP Swansea and has now spoken out.
When writing for Inside Time, a publication for current and former prisoners, he said: “My case gained national coverage because I had been a headteacher in South Wales comprehensive school. At 54 years old, I suddenly found myself facing time inside.”
He said: “I had been convicted of a section 18 assault (the highest form of GBH) on a male colleague at work… I regretted my actions immediately and to this day I often dream about apologising to the victim.
“It was right that I received a custodial sentence, but that didn’t diminish the sheer terror and anxiety I felt.”
He continued to explain his fears about spending time in prison and revealed he spent his last nine days inside on suicide watch after asking for help dealing with his private life.
During the trial, Felton admitted his guilt from the offset, with his (perhaps understandable) jealous rage caught on school CCTV cameras.
Mr Pyke, aged 51, had his back to the headmaster, and was pictured on a computer, when his attacker and ex-friend struck.
This relationship had become strained with Felton’s final words to the team reading: ‘Dear staff, the greatest mistake I made was appointing XXXXXX XXXXXX in various roles.
‘She has slept her way to the top, currently engaging in sexual activity without 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.’
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