A school principal who was imprisoned for assaulting his deputy with a wrench during a love triangle dispute has publicly addressed his downfall for the first time.
Dr. Anthony John Felton, aged 54, attacked Richard Pyke, aged 51, multiple times in the head upon discovering their shared involvement with a female teacher. Felton, who had a child with the woman without his wife’s knowledge, was upset to learn about Pyke’s relationship with her.
The incident occurred at St Joseph’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre in Port Talbot, South Wales, leaving Pyke with a head injury requiring hospital treatment. Felton was later sentenced to two years and four months in prison for attempted grievous bodily harm with intent but was released after serving five months in the summer of the following year.
In his recent statement, Felton expressed deep remorse, admitting that the custodial sentence was appropriate for his actions. The two educators, previously well-regarded colleagues and friends at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic, had their relationship turn sour after Felton discovered the affair post a school trip to Auschwitz.
Felton, who now regrets his violent reaction, acknowledged the consequences of his actions. He shared his experiences in a publication for current and former inmates, detailing the fear and anxiety he faced during his time behind bars.
Despite his desire to apologize, Felton remains restricted by an indefinite restraining order preventing contact with his former deputy. The court learned that Felton had been promoted to headteacher in 2023 after serving as the head of the mathematics department for 17 years, with the assault occurring in his second year as principal.
Following his release under the Home Office Detention Curfew Scheme, Felton was electronically tagged. The article details his concerns about potential harm in prison and the restrictions placed upon him post-release.