Love Triangle Jealousy Leads to Wrench Attack by Head Teacher on Deputy

Head Teacher Jailed for Violent Assault on Deputy Amid Love Triangle Fallout

A school head teacher has been sentenced to over two years in prison after a violent attack on his deputy, fueled by what the judge described as “overwhelming sexual jealousy.”
Anthony Felton, 54, launched a wrench attack on Richard Pyke, 51, his long-time colleague and deputy head at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive in Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot, on 5 March.
Felton admitted to attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court to two years and four months in prison. He will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence. A restraining order was also issued to protect Mr Pyke and his family indefinitely.

Background to the Incident

The court heard that Felton was in emotional turmoil after discovering he had fathered a child with a fellow teacher and later learning that Mr Pyke had entered into a relationship with the same woman. Judge Paul Thomas KC said the attack was likely “entirely without precedent” in the UK education sector.

Driven by emotional distress, Felton entered Mr Pyke’s office carrying a metal wrench and struck him multiple times from behind. Mr Pyke sustained minor injuries and attempted to defend himself until colleagues, alerted by the noise, intervened.

The assault was caught on CCTV. Following the attack, Felton fled the scene and later emailed all school staff, expressing regret and apologizing for the “problems and distress” his actions had caused.

Victim’s Statement and Impact

In a statement to the court, Mr Pyke described the incident as deeply traumatic. He said:

“Felton manipulated me into a position of complete vulnerability. I thought we were trusted colleagues who had, over many years, built a relationship of trust and understanding. It terrifies me still. I feel I have lost so much of me… I’m not sure I will ever come to terms with that.”

Judge’s Remarks and Sentencing Context

Judge Thomas drew attention to the wider context of violence in schools, citing the upcoming sentencing of a 14-year-old girl who had attempted to attack teachers and a pupil in Ammanford — less than 25 miles from St Joseph’s.

“You knew as well as anyone could have known the current prevalence of violence in our schools. The appalling example this episode sets to others needs no emphasis from me.”

He condemned Felton’s actions as premeditated and said the attack amounted to an ambush. Although defense counsel John Hipkin KC noted Felton had recently lost his mother and received a cancer diagnosis, the judge concluded that the true motivation was “overwhelming sexual jealousy arising from an adulterous affair and the uncontrollable rage it created.”

Prosecution Response

Abul Hussain of the Crown Prosecution Service stated:

“The level of unprovoked violence, from a professional in the workplace, was shocking. Too often, we see attacks of this nature result in life-changing injuries or fatalities. Thankfully, that was not the result in this case.”

Felton’s early guilty plea reduced his sentence from a potential three-and-a-half years to two years and four months.