A teacher who tried to murder her lover's wife in front of her 14-year-old daughter has been banned from teaching for life in what has been described as the real-life version of the film 'Fatal Attraction'.
Church of England class tutor Claire Bailey, now 47, had never met her victim Emma Russell, then 43, but was out for revenge after her affair with her husband ended.
Ms Russell feared she was going to die as the scorned Bailey wrestled her to the ground, got behind her and tried to cut her throat, but she managed to force the blade away.
Bailey snapped after being dumped by her lover and drove 145 miles in a jealous rage from her home in Dudley, West Midlands, to Ms Russell's address in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, buying the flowers from Sainsbury along the way.
The respected teacher donned a bizarre disguise before turning up to ring the other woman's doorbell at around 5pm with a carving knife hidden among a bunch of flowers, teaching watchdogs were told. She also wore a red wig, covid mask and sunglasses.
Clare Bailey pictured in a disguise before turning up to Emma Russell's home with a carving knife hidden among flowers
Bailey (pictured), a teacher since 2001, was jailed for 22 years and four months in June last year after admitting attempted murder
Clare Bailey launched the attack on Emma Russell (pictured, with her identity hidden in a video shared by North Yorkshire Police), 43, on June 23 last year in Harrogate
When Ms Russell opened the door, she said 'these are for you' and offered her the bouquet.
Ms Russell was puzzled and said 'No I don't want them thank you' before she got a horrifying glimpse of the handle of the knife behind the blooms.
Before she could slam the door, Bailey launched her murderous attack, repeatedly knifing and slashing her rival's neck, chest, stomach and arms as Ms Russell tried to fend her off while screaming for help.
Ms Russell's teenage daughter ran down the stairs and got stuck into the fight, even though she feared Bailey would turn on her next.
As Bailey stalked off back to her car, Ms Russell was rushed to hospital for major surgery to life-changing injuries which left her partly wheelchair bound and scarred for life.
It has been compared to a scene in Fatal Attraction in which Glenn Close's character attempts to stab her former lover, played by Michael Douglas after their relationship ended.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Bailey had been in a relationship with Ms Russell's husband, which had ended several months before the attack, but Bailey refused to accept it.
The husband was an old flame of Bailey's and they had rekindled their romance after meeting by chance at a relative's wedding.
Bailey, a teacher since 2001, was jailed for 22 years and four months in June last year after admitting attempted murder.
She was a classroom teacher at St Michael's Church of England High School in Rowley Regis from the Autumn term of 2019.
The video shared by North Yorkshire Police shows the scar left on Emma's neck after she fended off Bailey
On June 24, 2022, the day after the attack, Ms Bailey was arrested at her home at The Riddings in Penmore, Dudley.
She was fired on January 31 the next year and the case referred to teaching watchdogs.
Mrs Christine McLintock, who chaired the Teaching Regulation Agency hearing, said: '[Ms Bailey] arrived at Person A's [Ms Russel] doorstep covering her face with a bunch of flowers, wearing a red wig, a covid mask, sunglasses and carrying a large carving knife.
Regarding the attack, the Judge referred to this being an offence of high culpability with obvious planning and pre-meditation of murder causing Category 1 harm.
Accordingly, despite Bailey's 'love of teaching and helping young people', Mrs McLintock said: 'Ms Bailey was responsible for an extreme act of violence, attempted murder, and no review period should be considered appropriate for a ban.'
Bailey expressed remorse for her actions and the consequences of them and stated she cannot recollect the events so has not yet developed insight as to the cause of her actions.
Ms Russell, who was hospitalised for three months after the savage attack, told the court in her victim impact statement: 'I am still in pain every day and need painkillers to help with this.
'I use crutches to get around as I am still unable to use my right leg fully and for longer distances I have a wheelchair.
'I've lost all my independence, I couldn't go back to work, we are having to rely on disability benefits, I have just lost my whole life really, I need help with everything I do.
There is also a scar on her arm from the knife attack. Emma said she felt the need to cling onto the knife in order to survive
'I don't sleep and when I do sleep, I have flashbacks and nightmares of that afternoon.
'I know people will have their opinion about what I should have done following the attack, but I have done what was best for me.
'Affairs happen, they aren't nice, but they happen and no-one would ever imagine something like this would be the outcome, this was not a normal reaction to someone breaking up a relationship.'
Banning Bailey from teaching for life, Sarah Buxcey, for the Education Secretary, underlined: 'The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a finding of a conviction of attempted murder.
'Ms Bailey has limited insight as she states that she has no recollection of the events that took place, or anything said during the Judge's sentencing,
'Ms Bailey repeatedly told the panel that she wished the events had never happened.
'In my judgement, the lack of full insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.
'I am particularly mindful of the finding of an offence involving extreme violence in this case and the impact that such a finding has on the reputation of the profession.'
