A headteacher who had a “love child” with a colleague attacked his deputy with a wrench after feeling “overwhelming sexual jealousy” when they became embroiled in a love triangle.
Anthony John Felton, 54, hit Richard Pike, 51, with the tool at St Joseph's Catholic School in Port Talbot, South Wales.
He was captured on camera pulling the weapon from his jacket pocket before attacking Pike from behind on March 5.
Felton believed that his deputy had slept with another teacher, with whom he had recently been in a relationship, prosecution claimed.
Anthony John Felton, 54, hit Richard Pike, 51, with the tool at St Joseph's Catholic School in Port Talbot, South Wales
South Wales Police
He was captured on camera pulling the weapon from his jacket pocket before attacking Pike from behind on March 5
South Wales Police
The 51-year-old was rushed to hospital with head injuries following the attack and has not been able to return to work since.
Felton pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent at Swansea Crown Court.
He was sentenced to 28 months in prison on Friday and was also given a restraining order.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas said: “Mr Pyke thought he was your friend. Your victim.
“He was struck from behind having been lured by you into what was in effect an ambush.
“The psychological, emotional and professional impact on him was profound.”
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CCTV footage shows that as Pyke’s back was turned, Felton withdrew the wrench and began battering the 51-year-old in the head
South Wales Police
Felton shouted 'you know what you have done' whilst Pyke tried to wrestle the weapon away from him
South Wales Police
A general view of Swansea Crown Court in Swansea, south WalesPAThe court was told that the pair had been friends for several years but had wound up in a love triangle.
“The evidence of his wife and the admissions he made to her suggested Mr Felton had been in a relationship with another member of staff and had recently discovered he was the father of her child,” Ieuan Rees, prosecution, told the court.
“Furthermore, he believed that Mr Pyke had now begun his own relationship with that lady.”
Felton lured his colleague into a room, where he instructed him to read an email on a computer.
CCTV footage shows that as Pyke’s back was turned, Felton withdrew the wrench and began battering the 51-year-old in the head.
Felton shouted “you know what you have done” whilst Pyke tried to wrestle the weapon away from him.
St Joseph's Catholic School in Port Talbot, South Wales
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After another teacher broke up the attack, Felton threw the wrench away and drove away from the school in his car.
He later sent an email to his staff, apologising "for the problems and distress his actions were likely to cause".
Abul Hussain of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Anthony Felton struck a defenceless man repeatedly to the head with a metal weapon, demonstrating he had an intent to cause his victim really serious harm.
“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 fatal consequences, and thankfully, that was not the result in this case.”
In a victim impact statement Pyke told the court he would live with the attack for the rest of his life, saying it had taken “what made me, me”.
“I trusted you completely,” he said, now saying he “knows the real you”.
“My emotions swung wildly, I developed a stutter. The impact of your attack will be with me forever.”
