A 30-year-old teacher has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for having sexual relations with two underage pupils. Rebecca Joynes was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual activity with children at Manchester Crown Court.
The court heard that Joynes groomed both boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, from the age of 15. Her actions began with social media exchanges and escalated to physical encounters.
Joynes, who became pregnant by Boy B and gave birth in early 2024, was visibly distressed as the sentence was handed down. The child was removed from her care within 24 hours of birth.
In a victim impact statement, Boy B expressed his struggle to come to terms with the abuse, describing himself as “coerced, controlled, manipulated, sexually abused, and mentally abused”. He also voiced his distress at being denied information about his child.
Judge Kate Cornell emphasised Joynes’ position of authority, stating, “You were the adult, the person in control. You should have known better.”
The trial revealed Joynes’ grooming tactics, including giving Boy A a maths problem to solve her phone number and buying him expensive gifts. With Boy B, she engaged in regular unprotected sexual activity at her flat.
Detective Constable Beth Alexander from Greater Manchester Police highlighted the importance of recognising male victims of sexual abuse, stating, “Women can still be paedophiles; this term is not reserved only for men.”
The case has sparked discussions about societal perceptions of male sexual abuse victims and the responsibilities of educators in safeguarding children.
