A former head teacher who was sent to prison for attacking his deputy head with a heavy spanner has broken his silence, describing the incident that destroyed his career as an act of 'overwhelming sexual jealousy'.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
Dr Anthony John Felton, 54, was sentenced to more than two years in prison after ambushing his colleague, Richard Pyke, at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School in Aberavon, South Wales. The assault occurred on March 5 last year.
Shocking CCTV footage shown in court captured the moment Felton quietly pulled the tool from inside his jacket and swung it down onto Mr Pyke's head from behind. The video caused audible gasps from the public gallery at Swansea Crown Court.
The court heard that the married head teacher had secretly fathered a child with another member of staff and suspected she was also in a relationship with Mr Pyke. Felton pleaded guilty to attempted grievous bodily harm with intent on April 7.
A Life in Tatters: Reflections from Prison
Following his release after serving four months of his sentence, Felton has written about the incident for the first time in Inside Time, a newspaper for prisoners. He admitted being 'deeply ashamed' of the offence that led him to HMP Swansea.
'I regretted my actions immediately, and to this day I often dream about apologising to the victim,' Felton wrote. He described the 'sheer terror and anxiety' he felt at the prospect of prison, fearing violence and sexual assault while on remand.
He acknowledged that his case gained national attention specifically because of his position of trust as a head teacher. Felton, who was appointed to the role in September 2023 according to school records, stated that while his custodial sentence was justified, it did not lessen his profound fear.
The Victim's Lasting Trauma
In a powerful victim impact statement, Richard Pyke told the court the attack had taken 'what made me, me' and that he would live with it for the rest of his life.
'I trusted you completely,' Mr Pyke said, addressing Felton. 'I had no idea that you held anything against me... You had my complete trust in every way and you used that to manoeuvre me into a position of utter vulnerability. And then you attacked me from behind.'
He added that the betrayal and the memory of Felton smiling at him seconds before the assault would haunt him forever.
Unprecedented Betrayal of Trust
Sentencing Felton, Judge Paul Thomas KC said an attack by a head on their deputy was, he suspected, 'entirely without precedent'. He directly linked the violence to Felton's personal life.
'Ultimately, the trigger for your act of extreme violence was of your own doing,' Judge Thomas said, 'the overwhelming sexual jealousy arising from an adulterous affair and the uncontrollable rage it created in you.'
The case highlights a catastrophic breach of professional and personal trust, leaving both men's lives irrevocably damaged and a school community shaken.
