Jealous headteacher who battered deputy with wrench released from prison

A headteacher who attacked his deputy with a wrench in a jealous rage has been released fromjail.

Anthony Felton, from Gorseinon, Swansea, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison in April this yearafter attacking his deputy Richard Pykethe previous month. The 54-year-old has now been released from jail under a home detention curfew and he is subject to an electronically monitored curfew for a minimum of nine hours a day by law, though generally it is for 12 hours.

Confirming his release under home detention curfew (HDC) with an electronic tag, the Ministry of Justice said the disgraced head had been risk assessed and would be subject to strict conditions.

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At a hearing in April, Felton admitted attempted grievous bodily harm with intent after the attack at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Comprehensive in Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot, south Wales, on March 5 this year. He was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court to two years and four months by Judge Paul Thomas.

The court heard the former headteacher had "overwhelming sexual jealousy" due to a love triangle at the secondary school. A video showed the shocking moment the headteacher attacked his assistant.

Felton attacked Mr Pyke, 51, with the metal wrench after finding out he was the father of a fellow teacher's child and that Mr Pyke was in a relationship with the same teacher. The pair had been friends and colleagues for 15 years. Mr Pyke was treated in hospital for minor injuries after Felton attacked him from behind with the wrench.

Confirming Felton's early release, a Prison Service Spokesman, reported WalesOnline, said: “Offenders released on Home Detention Curfew are subject to strict conditions and must be tagged. If they break the rules they will be sent back to prison." The spokesperson gave no exact date for the release but confirmed: "Anthony Felton was released in August 2025."

The Ministry of Justice said all home detention curfews (HDCs) are discretionary. No one is eligible for HDC unless they have been risk-assessed, and the prison governor makes the ultimate decision. Felton will be subject to strict licence conditions and a curfew enforced by electronic monitoring, as in every HDC case.

All prisoners released on HDC must also have served at least half the custodial part of their sentence. After the attack at the school on March 5 this year, Felton threw the wrench away and left the school in his car. He then sent an email to all staff apologising "for the problems and distress his actions were likely to cause".