MARRIED HEADTEACHER ATTACKED HIS DEPUTY WITH A WRENCH OVER LOVE TRIANGLE WITH FEMALE COLLEAGUE WHO ‘SLEPT HER WAY TO THE STOP’

A married headteacher attacked his deputy with a heavy-duty wrench over a love triangle which involved a female colleague.

Dr John Felton, 54, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent after striking Richard Pyke with the tool five times on March 5 at St Joseph's Catholic School and Sixth Form in Aberavon, South Wales.
The dispute between the pair centred around a younger teacher who was allegedly in a relationship with the headteacher.
Shortly before the attack, Felton emailed colleagues to say the female staff member had 'slept her way to the top' and apologised for the 'distress which the rest of today will bring'.
CCTV footage, seen by MailOnline, shows the headteacher, wearing a blue high-vis jacket, enter Mr Pyke's office while he is in conversation with a female member of staff.
When she leaves the room, Felton swings the wrench while Mr Pyke is sitting down with his back to his attacker.
Felton lashes out with the tool four more times as Mr Pyke falls to the floor kicking out with his legs to prevent getting hit by further blows.
The headteacher admitted a single charge of grievous bodily harm with intent and has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on April 25.
It was a 'spectacular fall from grace' for the highly-respected mathematician and head, the court was told.
Emergency services were called to the school at 9.50am and Felton was arrested at the scene while Mr Pyke, 51, was taken to hospital for minor injuries.
The headteacher pled guilty when he appeared before Swansea Crown Court and nodded as the judge told him he would be getting a custodial sentence.
Judge Paul Thomas said: 'Bearing in mind the number of offences of violence in school perpetrated by pupils it seems to me that my public duty would require that only a prison sentence can by passed here.'
The court heard Felton, of Gorseinon, Swansea, was in the process of 'obtaining some references' before he is sentenced.
John Hipkin KC, defending, said: 'The case has a unique background to it. This is a spectacular fall from grace.'
'There were a number of blows, it's all on CCTV.'
Felton was appointed head at the 900-pupil school in 2023 after being head of mathematics there for 17 years.
His email to teachers on the morning of the attack 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 without at least 2 current members of the SLT (School Leadership Team) including Richard Pyke.
'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.'
Pupils who witnessed the violence are being offered counselling and support through the local education authority.
Some parents arrived to collect their children after receiving text messages about the attack and threatened to keep them away until they got assurances about leadership in the school.
Neath Port Talbot Council said help would be offered to pupils and staff affected by the violent assault.
A spokesman 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.'