Former teacher Rebecca Joynes has been on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of six counts of sexual activity with a child, including two while being a person in a position of trust. Joynes was already suspended from her high school job and on bail for alleged sexual activity with one 15-year-old boy when she allegedly took the virginity of a second boy, known as Boy B, 16, who she later became pregnant by. Today a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child, including two while being a person in a position of trust. The court had previously heard how the teacher had a baby with one of the teenagers, which was taken away from her just hours after giving birth. She now sees the child just three times a week. Joynes was also accused of a “naked attempt to garner sympathy” from the jury by having a pink baby’s bonnet visibly tucked into her trousers during her appearances in court.
Joynes allegedly planned a “date night” with 16-year-old Boy B that involved an Ann Summers sex game, rose petals, and hidden notes around the flat. The court heard Boy B had called her a “paedo” during a row, and told her to find someone her own age, before it was said he gave in to emotional pressure from Joynes to keep the relationship going. Joynes has admitted chatting with 15-year-old boy A after she gave him nine digits of her number and he guessed the other two. Boy B also sent her Snapchat messages. In both cases, the activity was a secret from their parents and they both flirted with her. Boy A called her “sexy”, and boy B sent her a message saying, “Get your **** out.” Joynes had pleaded not guilty to all the charges and maintained that the relationship only became sexual after she was dismissed from her job and he had left school at 16, so no offense had taken place.
During closing speeches, the prosecutor questioned Joynes’s judgment and whether she was aware of the optics of her actions, pointing out the age difference and power dynamics at play in her relationships with the teenagers. Jurors heard how both boys sent her flirty Snapchat messages, and physical evidence, such as semen recovered from bedsheets, was presented to support the prosecution’s case. Boy A described one sexual encounter where Joynes had told him, “No one had better find out,” as they engaged in sexual activity. The court also heard about a scenario involving a fictitious male teacher to help jurors understand the nature of the allegations against Joynes.
Throughout the trial, Joynes admitted to making mistakes and ruining her dream job with her actions, but denied engaging in any underage sexual activity. She shared details of her loneliness and vulnerability after a breakup, leading to her involvement with the teenagers. The prosecutor questioned Joynes’s decision to prioritize the company of a 15-year-old boy in Salford over her supportive family and best friends. Despite her claims that the relationship with boy B turned sour and he became “controlling,” the evidence presented in court painted a different picture of a teacher engaging in inappropriate behavior and violating the trust placed in her by her students and their families.
The case highlighted the complex dynamics of teacher-student relationships and the serious consequences of crossing boundaries and abusing positions of authority. Joynes’s actions not only resulted in criminal charges but also led to a significant disruption in her personal and professional life. The trial served as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries and the severe repercussions of inappropriate conduct, especially when it involves vulnerable individuals such as minors. In the end, justice was served as Joynes was found guilty of the charges brought against her and awaits sentencing for her crimes.
