Anthony John Felton felt ‘sheer terror’ being jailed at HMP Swansea after attacking love rival

HMP Swansea in Wales where teacher Anthony John Felton served jail time after attacking his love rival with a spanner. Photo / Getty Images

A headteacher who was jailed for hitting his love-rival deputy over the head with a spanner has claimed he felt “sheer terror” before beginning his sentence.

Anthony John Felton, 54, also said he had anxiety about starting his stretch inside, which was supposed to last two years and four months.

Felton attacked Richard Pyke, 51, with a wrench at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive School in Aberavon, South Wales because of “overwhelming sexual jealousy” in March last year.

The disgraced teacher had previously been in a relationship and had fathered a child – despite his unsuspecting wife also working at the school – with an unnamed colleague, who he believed was also in a relationship with Pyke.

After admitting to attempted grievous bodily harm, he was in April sentenced to two years and four months for what the judge described as an “act of extreme violence”.

He was released just four months later under a curfew scheme.

Writing in Inside Time, a newspaper for current and former prisoners, he has now detailed how fellow inmates at HMP Swansea knew who he was because of the publicity of the case and boasted of the “genuine friendships” he had made.

The father-of-four said: “At 54 years old, I suddenly found myself facing time inside. It was right that I received a custodial sentence, but that didn’t diminish the sheer terror and anxiety I felt.”

He revealed his biggest fear before going to jail was being “raped or beaten up”.

However, he was told this was “extremely rare”.

“Prison was punishment, but I began to believe acts of kindness could still exist within it,” he continued.

“I had already lost my career, purpose, and much of the trust of family, friends, and colleagues.

“Because of the publicity surrounding my crime, almost everyone knew who I was. Many came to speak to me, and some even praised me. I always replied: ‘It was wrong, and I am ashamed for doing it’”.

During sentencing, CCTV was played of Felton’s attack, in which Pyke suffered a glancing blow to the back of his head.

The court was told Pyke had been lured into the room in what “was in effect an ambush” by Felton, who told him to look over an email.

The footage shows Felton reaching into his pocket for the tool before swinging violently at Pyke.

The assault only stopped when fellow members of staff heard the victim’s shouts and came to assist him.

While Pyke told the court he had been left with a stutter and “debilitating flashbacks” from the attack, Felton claims to have made a fresh start.

He wrote how he had been able to complete qualifications in food safety, team leadership, and operations management and was now employed by a charity.

“For many people prison can feel like the end of the road, for me it became the start of a very different journey,” he said.

“I often heard stories of men who had nothing to return to. I count myself fortunate: I had a home waiting for me, and family and friends willing to stand by me.

“After six months inside, I was released on tag in August. It was an emotional exit, and I knew I would miss some aspects of prison life – especially the genuine friendships I had formed and the acts of kindness shown to me.

“Adjusting has not been easy. Everyday sights, colours, and smells still feel overwhelming, and it will take time. But I know I am moving forward, and I am determined to give back – to my family, to my friends, and to society.”

Felton is still suspended from teaching and is the subject of an indefinite restraining order around contacting Pyke.

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