Headmaster, 54, who was jailed for attacking his deputy with a spanner after discovering he was sleeping with his secret mistress speaks out about his downfall for the first time

The headteacher who launched a shocking attack on his own vice-president with a wrench after discovering he was sleeping with his secret mistress has revealed his downfall publicly for the first time.

54 year old Dr. Anthony John Felton was jailed for two years and four months for a brutal attack on his love rival colleague Richard Pyke, sparked by a jealous rage when he discovered they were both having an affair with the same female teacher.

Felton had fathered a child with this woman without the knowledge of his wife, Maria, who also taught at the school as the Religious and Sexual Education Coordinator, and learned that she was also seeing his assistant.

Shortly before launching his surprise attack with a heavy-duty device, captured on dramatic CCTV footage, Felton sent a sophisticated email to staff at the Catholic high school in Wales apologizing for what he was about to do.

She also smeared her never-named teacher lover for ‘sleeping her way to the top’ in the revenge-filled email before attacking her other lover, Mr Pyke.

Now Felton has finally spoken out about the extraordinary attack that cost him his career, his marriage, his relationship with his mistress and child, and his freedom.

He said: ‘I was sentenced to prison earlier this year and I must admit I am deeply ashamed of the crime that brought me to HMP Swansea.

‘I was convicted of Section 18 assault’ [the most serious form of grievous bodily harm] A male colleague at work.

Felton ambushed his assistant, Mr. Pyke, and attacked him from behind with a wrench.

‘I immediately regretted what I did and to this day I often dream of apologizing to the victim.’

Felton, who was released from HMP Swansea after serving just six months of his sentence in addition to time in custody, was writing for Inside Time, a newspaper for current and former prisoners.

He continued: ‘My case attracted national attention because I was a headteacher at a comprehensive school in South Wales.

‘At the age of 54, I suddenly found myself inside, face to face with time.

‘It was right that I was sentenced to detention, but it did not reduce the fear and anxiety I felt.’

Felton, who is married and has four children, said he was so anxious about prison that he spent his time in custody calculating how long a ‘forever’ prison sentence might last.

She explained that she was afraid of being beaten or even raped in prison, and as a result, she spent the first nine days inside on suicide watch.

While inside, he said he asked the prison mental health nurse for support in dealing with his ‘secret private life’.

Deputy leader Richard Pyke (pictured) suffered serious head injuries following the attack

Felton admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and in video shown to the court and later made public by the Crown Prosecution Service, the wrench was seen swinging like a baseball bat.

Mr Pyke, 51, who had his back to his attacker, suffered a minor blow to the top of his head but required hospital treatment.

Both teachers were formerly highly regarded at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive School in Aberavon, South Wales, and considered each other friends.

But Felton, who fathered a child with a young female teacher during an adulterous affair, discovered that she had been secretly seeing Mr. Pyke after a school trip to Auschwitz.

Fueled by what was later described as ‘extreme sexual jealousy’, Felton sent a farewell email to his staff on the morning of March 5 last year.

It said: ‘Dear staff, the biggest mistake I made was assigning XXXXXX XXXXXX to various roles.

‘He slept his way to the top, is now engaging in sexual activity without the presence of at least 2 members of the SLT (School Leadership Team), including Richard Pyke.

‘I’m sorry for the trouble the rest of the day will bring. I am sad.

‘You are good people and you are doing a great job for our community.

‘Goodbye, John.’

A judge told Felton his attack was motivated by ‘sexual jealousy’ arising from an adulterous relationship

The giant wrench used by Anthony Felton in his attack on love rival Richard Pyke

Moments later the headteacher swung the wrench and delivered a series of blows, aiming for his love rival’s head.

Dr Felton was only promoted to head teacher of the 900-pupil school in 2023, after heading the mathematics department for the previous 17 years.

Sentencing him at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Paul Thomas KC said it was ‘completely unprecedented’ for a headteacher to attack his assistant at the school.

The judge told the embarrassed school principal: ‘The trigger for these actions was extreme sexual jealousy resulting from an adulterous relationship and the uncontrolled anger it created in you.

‘He (Mr Pyke) was shot severely in the back as he was effectively led into an ambush by you.

‘Your marriage, career and reputation have been irrevocably lost and this will weigh heavily on you after the end of your sentence.’

Felton, of Gorseinon, Swansea, was released early and electronically tagged under the Home Office Detention Curfew Scheme.

However, his wish to apologize to his victim, Mr. Pyke, will not be fulfilled; He was subject to an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting his former aide.

Felton is now out of prison and says he’s still ashamed of what he did

Felton claims he has a fresh start and now works for a charity working with prisoners in the UK.

In his first-person article for the Mahkumlar newspaper, he said: ‘Prison may seem like the end of the road for many people, but for me it was the beginning of a very different journey.

‘Because my crime was made public, almost everyone knew who I was. Many came to talk to me and some even praised me. I always answered: “It was wrong and I’m ashamed that I did it.”

‘I have often heard stories of men with nothing to come back to. I consider myself lucky: I had a home waiting for me, family and friends who were willing to be there for me.

‘After being locked up for six months, I was tagged and released in August. It was an emotional departure and I knew I would miss some aspects of prison life, especially the genuine friendships I made and the acts of kindness I was shown.

‘It wasn’t easy to adapt. Everyday sights, colors, and smells still feel overwhelming, and that will take time. But I know I’m making progress and I’m determined to give back to my family, friends and community.’

Felton has now been suspended as a teacher and his £90,000-a-year job at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive School is currently being advertised.

Mr Pyke continues to teach at the school alongside Dr Felton’s wife, Maria, the woman at the center of the love triangle.