A married headteacher involved in a love triangle sent school staff an email apologising in advance for “distress” before brutally bludgeoning his deputy with an 18-inch wrench.
Anthony John Felton, the head of St Joseph’s Catholic School and Sixth Form in Aberavon, South Wales, struck Richard Pyke with the heavy-duty tool five times while the two were on campus on March 5. Distressing footage capturing the moment Felton descended on the deputy in his own office shows him hitting Mr Pyke, who collapses to the ground in agony. Swansea Crown Court heard he had launched at his colleague, who survived the attack with non-life-threatening injuries, amid a dispute about a younger teacher with whom Felton was allegedly involved.
Before the incident, the court heard the previously well-respected head had sent around an email to staff apologising in advance for the “distress the rest of the day will bring”. In the same extraordinary message, the head also accused his alleged affair partner of having “slept her way to the top”.
Felton sent around a note to teachers on the morning of his shock assault accusing the unnamed female teacher of “engaging in sexual activity” with two staff members, including Richard Pyke. The email read: “Dear staff, the greatest mistake I made was appointing [the female teacher] 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.” In stark contrast to the rest of the message, Felton closed out his email by apologising twice for the incoming distress caused by the attack and heaping praise on staff’s “amazing” work.
He concluded: “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.” Felton pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent after appearing at the court, with his own defence characterising the case as a “spectacular fall from grace”.
The former head was told by Judge Paul Thomas KC to expect a custodial sentence as he appeared in court via video link, with John Hipkin KC, saying his client was “in the process of obtaining some references”. He said: “It is a serious matter, obviously, and it is whether the court requires further information about the defendant in the content of a pre-sentence report or not.”
Responding, Judge Thomas said the only sentence he could hand down would be a prison sentence. He said: “In the context of where and how this offence was committed, and in particular, bearing in mind the propensity of violence in schools perpetrated by pupils, it seems to me that my public duty require that only a prison sentence can be passed here.”
The aftermath of Felton’s shock attack continues to rip through the school, with pupils who witnessed the violence having been offered counselling and support by local education authorities. A spokesperson for Neath Port Talbot Council said the school is cooperating with police enquiries.
They said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff are our top priority and we are working closely with the school to ensure the appropriate support is offered to everyone affected by this incident. The matter is currently under investigation by the police and the school is fully cooperating with their inquiries.”
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