Finally, the full truth of Greater Manchester teacher Rebecca Joynes' sex crimes can be told
17.05.2024 - 17:05
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Walking arm-in-arm with her dad up to the dank concrete building, she was a world away from her quiet, humble beginnings.
In the eyes of those closest to her, Rebecca Joynes was nice, shy, and kept herself-to-herself. She had grown up in a leafy affluent village in the Wirral with her parents, the eldest of two daughters.
After landing her dream job as a teacher at a Greater Manchester School, she had the world at her feet. But beneath the surface, she was harbouring a dark secret.
Now, after a two-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, she has been revealed as a sexual predator after grooming two teenage boys she taught. Joynes was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child - including two by a person in a position of trust.
Both teenagers cannot be named for legal reasons.
Growing up, Joynes had a love for gymnastics and dancing. In later years, she frequently visited the gym and enjoyed luxury holidays including to LA with her ex-partner.
In social media posts, Joynes was described by her dad as a “perfect child in every way” who from “child to adult was always at the top.”
The 30-year-old studied a Sports and Exercise Science Degree at Liverpool John Moores University before going on to complete the prestigious Teach First qualification, which aims to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds, later achieving a postgraduate degree in secondary maths teaching. She was lucky enough to land her dream job at a Greater Manchester school in September 2018.
She was well thought of, and well liked, by staff and students alike. On ‘World Teachers’ Day’, she was given a thank you note from a pupil for helping them with their maths.
The COVID lockdown hit in 2020, and she was forced to adapt to a new style