A married headteacher who launched a vicious wrench attack on his deputy head lover after she tried to end their illicit affair has been jailed for his brutal and calculating assault.
Gareth Williams, 44, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to ambushing and beating Ms. Rebecca Duffy in a fit of rage, leaving her fearing for her life. The shocking case has sent ripples through the education community, exposing a dark story of betrayal and violence behind school gates.
A Relationship Built on Deception
The court heard how Williams, the headteacher of St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Birmingham, was living a double life. While married to his wife, he engaged in a secret affair with Ms. Duffy, his second-in-command.
When Ms. Duffy attempted to terminate the relationship, Williams's obsession turned deadly. He lured her to a meeting under false pretences, setting the stage for a horrific confrontation.
A Premeditated and Savage Attack
On the day of the assault, Williams lay in wait for Ms. Duffy. As she arrived, he launched his attack, striking her multiple times with a wrench he had brought with him.
"He was hitting me with all his force," Ms. Duffy recounted in a victim impact statement. "I truly believed he was going to kill me. I was begging him to stop." The assault left her with severe physical injuries and profound psychological trauma, from which she is still recovering.
A Fall from Grace and a Prison Sentence
At Birmingham Crown Court, Williams was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. The judge condemned his cowardly and premeditated actions, highlighting the severe breach of trust and the devastating impact on the victim.
The case serves as a stark warning and a tragic example of how personal misconduct can shatter lives and careers, leaving a permanent scar on a once-trusted community institution.
