Rebecca Joynes, a 30-year-old former secondary school teacher from Manchester, has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for grooming and sexually abusing two pupils. She was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child, two while in a position of trust, following a trial in May.
Joynes groomed both boys from the age of 15. She was on bail for sexual activity with the first victim, Boy A, when she began a sexual relationship with the second, Boy B, with whom she later had a child. Sentencing her at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Cornell described her conduct as showing 'breathtaking arrogance' and noted she had abused her position of trust.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Boy B said he was 'coerced, controlled, manipulated, sexually abused, and mentally abused'. He described the aftermath as 'a very dark time' and said the abuse had 'tore my family apart'. Boy B also said he had lived a double life for 18 months behind his family's back.
Judge Cornell addressed potential misconceptions, stating: 'It may be asked what 15-year-old boy would not want to have sex with an older, attractive teacher? ... Well Miss Joynes, there is no doubt this is a crime. Both boys were very much victims.'
Joynes was also placed on the sex offenders register for life, given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, and issued a restraining order in relation to both boys.
