Headteacher Faces Life Sentence for Assault

Dr. John Felton, a headteacher at St Joseph's Catholic School in Aberavon, South Wales, is facing a potential life sentence after admitting to attacking his deputy, Richard Pyke, with a spanner over a reported love triangle involving a female colleague. The assault took place in front of students after Felton emailed staff apologizing for the distress his actions would cause. Both Felton and Pyke were involved in affairs with the same female teacher, who was not present during the incident. Felton was arrested on-site while Pyke was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The attack has caused significant concern among parents, some of whom have threatened to keep their children home until reassurances about school leadership are provided. Felton, a married father-of-three, had recently been appointed headteacher after 17 years as head of mathematics at the school.