A headteacher is facing jail after he admitted attacking his deputy at their secondary school in Wales.
Anthony John Felton, 54, inflicted ‘a number of blows’ to his deputy at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive School in Aberavon, South Wales, Swansea Crown Court heard.
The married teacher was accused of attacking his deputy Richard Pyke, 51, with a spanner over a love triangle with another teacher.
He is said to have discovered a woman was also having affairs with other members of staff – including his own deputy.
Felton pleaded guilty today to attempted grievous bodily harm against Richard Pyke, 51, with intent against his deputy head.
Mr Pyke was rushed to hospital but later discharged having suffered only minor injuries.
Details of the incident were not explained in court, but the judge heard that the fight had all been caught on CCTV.
Prosecutor Lisa Jones said Dr Felton sent his wife Maria messages on the morning of the attack, which were of a ‘concerning nature’, as well as sending an apology letter to staff at the school.
The head of the 800-pupil Catholic school wrote to colleagues before the alleged attack apologising for ‘the distress which the rest of today will bring.’
Felton spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea via video-link from prison.
Following the guilty plea, judge Paul Thomas KC said the headteacher was due a prison sentence for the assault.
He added: ‘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.
‘I am sure a prison sentence is inevitable. It is simply a question of fixing the length.’
Felton’s defense lawyer said there was a unique background to the incident.
John Hipkin KC said of the headteacher’s fight: ‘On any view this is a spectacular fall from grace, to say the least.’
Felton is due to be sentenced on April 25.
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