Paedo teacher who fell pregnant to student caused ‘enormous damage’ to teens

Jailed teacher Rebecca Joynes, 31, was described as causing ‘enormous damage’ to two pupils at a professional conduct hearing.

Imprisoned paedophile teacher Rebecca Joynes has shunned a special conduct hearing which heard today that she inflicted ‘enormous damage’ on two students.

Joynes, 31, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in July for engaging in sexual relations with two pupils. She lured one 15 year old lad with a trip to the Trafford Centre, purchasing him a £345 Gucci belt from Selfridges.

She subsequently became pregnant by another teenage student, with whom she also initiated a sexual relationship when he was 15. Joynes was convicted of six counts of sexual activity with a child, including two counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust following a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

The offences involved two teenage boys she encountered through her role as a teacher at a Greater Manchester school. The identities of the boys and the school are protected by law and cannot be disclosed.

Today (Thursday December 4, 2025), a professional conduct panel hearing was being held to examine her behaviour. Joynes, who remains incarcerated, was invited to participate in the remote hearing but declined to do so and had no one to represent her interests, the panel was informed, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Shirley Duckworth, representing the Teaching Regulation Agency, told the panel that Joynes’ convictions were ‘of the utmost severity’ and highlighted her ‘lack of engagement’ in conduct panel proceedings.

Ms Duckworth stated that Joynes had ‘committed sexual offences against two boys she had direct contact with in the course of her profession’.

Detailing her misconduct against one of the victims, referred to as Pupil A, Ms Duckworth highlighted that the teacher had committed an ‘abuse of trust’. She also noted the trial judge’s remarks on the ‘significant disparity’ in their ages.

Furthermore, she had ‘deleted’ the contents of her phone when an investigation was initiated, added Ms Duckworth.

Her offences against the second boy, known as Pupil B, were marked by ‘grooming and an abuse of trust’, stated Ms Duckworth.

She pointed out that ‘the most serious’ element of the misconduct against Pupil B was that it occurred while she was on bail for crimes against Pupil A.

The hearing was informed that Joynes, a maths teacher, was sacked for gross misconduct in July 2022 following her initial court appearance.

Ms Duckworth mentioned that police visited the school where Joynes taught in 2021 and notified the headteacher about an ongoing investigation into allegations involving Pupil A, prompted by a complaint to Childline.

The barrister stated that Joynes couldn’t deny a relationship with Pupil B due to the ‘existence of a child’, which she described as a ‘significant aggravating feature’.

‘It’s right to identify Miss Joynes as a paedophile’

Ms Duckworth commented that the ‘notion of a Mrs Robinson figure’ is one that ‘permeates’, but she continued to say that her crimes against the two boys had a ‘lasting impact’.

She mentioned that fatherhood was ‘thrust upon’ Pupil B, who she quoted as saying: “I will forever be Rebecca’s victim and will be forever be linked to her through our child.”

The acquisition of a £345 Gucci belt, she continued, was a ‘manipulative form of flattery’, adding that Pupil B had ‘felt deceived by a teacher she should have been able to trust’.

She further stated: “It’s right to identify Miss Joynes as a paedophile.”

She asserted it was ‘inconceivable’ that Joynes wasn’t aware she was doing something wrong, adding: “The damage done here is enormous.”

The conduct panel, led by Phil Thompson, commenced shortly after 9am on Thursday. The panel is determining whether Joynes’ behaviour constitutes ‘unacceptable conduct’ and if it tarnishes the reputation of the teaching profession.

If so, it will then proceed to a private session to decide whether to recommend a ‘prohibition order’ to the secretary of state.

The hearing was ongoing today, with the panel expected to announce its findings on Thursday afternoon.

Joynes was sentenced in July at Manchester Crown Court where her two victims were referred to as Boy A and Boy B in press coverage of the proceedings.

The court heard how she took Boy A to the Trafford Centre and purchased him a £345 Gucci belt from Selfridges, before taking him back to her flat in Salford, where they engaged in sexual activity.

She was suspended from her position and was later found to be pregnant with a second boy – Boy B – whom she met when he was 15 years old, leading to them sharing a kiss.

The relationship escalated to a sexual level, resulting in Joynes becoming pregnant and giving birth to his child. This occurred despite her telling him that due to a health issue, it was ‘almost impossible’ for her to conceive.

He discovered her pregnancy during a planned ‘date night’, complete with rose petals and love notes. She also presented him with a baby grow bearing the words ‘I love my daddy to the moon and back’.

A victim statement read on behalf of Boy B stated: “I was coerced, controlled and sexually abused, it was very upsetting this happened to me and I had little to no support from organisations.

“For months after the abuse it was a very dark time. I felt backed into a corner, I had just lived a double life for 18 months, and it had a massive mental toll on me and my family.

“It tore my family apart, they struggled to come to terms with the fact they brought me to school which was supposed to be a safe environment. My parents broke down every day and night.”

Joynes, who has no previous convictions, denied the offences at trial. Over several days of giving evidence, she refuted any sexual activity with the first boy, but admitted she ‘liked the attention’ he gave her.

When questioned about why she took him to the Trafford Centre before allowing him to stay at her flat, she responded: “I was stupid, I don’t know.”

Regarding the second lad, she insisted nothing occurred between them until he’d turned 16 and after her dismissal from her post. She maintained she was ‘in love with’ the teenager and their relationship stemmed from a ‘strong friendship’.

The jury was presented with a letter in which she’d written to the boy stating ‘every inch of you is perfect’.

Joynes informed the court that just 24 hours following their baby’s birth, the child was ‘taken away’ from her. Throughout proceedings, she kept a baby’s bonnet tucked into her trousers.

Her defence barrister, Michael O’Brien, explained his client battles anxiety and depression, and had been deemed ’emotionally fragile’ by the probation service.

“The defendant understands her own conduct has seen her miss out on the early years of her baby’s life. The baby will miss out on very important contact with her mother. The defendant understands that’s entirely of her making – and it’s not the baby’s fault,” he stated.

“The shorter the time, the better for the baby,” the barrister continued. He described how the infant was removed from her at birth and it proved ‘harrowing’ for Joynes.

Passing sentence, Judge Kate Cornell accused her of demonstrating ‘breathtaking arrogance’, stating: “You have shown an unwilling inability to face up to wrongdoing. This does you no favours, Ms Joynes.

“You were the adult, the one in control and should have known better. You were trusted by the school, the boys and the parents – for caring and protecting their sons. You abused that trust and exploited that role for your sexual gratification. It is inconceivable you did not realise that too.

“You deliberately transgressed them and encouraged boys to breach that too. You turned a blind eye.”

Joynes, from Pensby Avenue, the Wirral, received a prison sentence of six-and-a-half years. Restraining orders were issued against both boys.

Joynes will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.