A former mathematics teacher has been handed a significant prison sentence and permanently barred from the profession after being found guilty of engaging in s3xual relationships with two of her underage pupils, one of whom she later had a child with.
From Classroom to Courtroom: A Gross Breach of Trust
Rebecca Joynes, aged 30, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison last year following her conviction on multiple counts of s3xual activity with a child while in a position of trust. The recent decision by a professional misconduct panel has now struck her off the teaching register indefinitely, ensuring she can never teach again.
The panel concluded that her actions represented unacceptable professional conduct that severely damaged the reputation of the teaching profession. Chairman Phil Thompson stated her offences were extremely serious and had undermined public confidence.
Detailed Timeline of the Offences
The misconduct began in 2021 when Joynes, then a teacher, targeted a 15-year-old boy in her class. She initiated contact by giving him a portion of her phone number and daring him to guess the rest, leading to flirtatious messaging. She later met the teenager at the Selfridges store, purchased a luxury Gucci belt for him worth £345, and took him to her Salford apartment where they had s3x on two occasions.
The situation came to light after the boy shared a photo with friends as proof. The school informed his mother after allegations surfaced, prompting a police investigation. Joynes was arrested and released on bail with the strict condition that she have no contact with anyone under 18 years old.
A Second Victim and a Pregnancy
Defying her bail conditions, Joynes then pursued a second pupil, referred to as Boy B, who was also 15 when the contact began. Their relationship intensified after he turned 16. Joynes sent him intimate photographs and notes calling him "perfect." She invited him to her flat, where a s3xual relationship began. This relationship continued in various locations on at least 30 separate occasions.
Joynes misled the teenager, claiming it was nearly impossible for her to conceive due to polycystic ovary syndrome. She later revealed her pregnancy by presenting him with a babygrow that read, "I love my daddy to the moon and back." The pair eventually had a child together.
Judgment and Lasting Consequences
During the sentencing hearing in July last year, Judge Kate Cornell condemned Joynes's "breathtaking gall" and "astonishing arrogance." Joynes was seen sobbing as she was taken into custody to begin her prison term.
The independent misconduct panel has now finalized her professional downfall by issuing a prohibition order. This order is lifelong, with no provision for a future review, meaning Rebecca Joynes's teaching career is conclusively over. The panel emphasized the extensive breaches of professional boundaries and the profound abuse of her position of trust, which they said had clearly brought the profession into disrepute.
