BREAKING NEWS | Teacher who sexually abused two boys jailed for six-and-a-half years

Rebecca Joynes (30/12/1993) of Waterman Walk, Salford, has today (Thursday 4 July 2024) been sentenced to six-and-a-half years for six sexual offences against two boys. She was previously found guilty to a majority verdict in May.

She was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child on 18 October 2021 and was later charged with six counts of sexual activity – four counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.

The court heard that Joynes contacted two teenage boys she met whilst she was a teacher at a Greater Manchester school.

In a powerful victim impact statement read out in court today, one victim explained the physical and mental toil the abuse at the hands of Joynes had taken on him.

One victim said: “I struggled to come to terms with my abuse, I was completely in denial. I subsequently held back and did not fully open up to people. For reference, Rebecca was in my head that much. I would argue until I was blue in the face protecting her and would not hear a bad word against her. I felt as so I had betrayed someone I love and had done wrong by giving evidence. I felt a large sense of guilt for a long time.

“I questioned if I was right to give statements about the woman who was carrying my child, since then I have replayed a lot of things in my head, and spoken to a lot of people, and it has made me realise the full extent of the abuse carried out on me and the tactics that were used to do so.

“I was coerced, controlled, manipulated, sexually abused, and mentally abused. It is very upsetting that this has happened to me. The months after the abuse happened to me, was a very dark time, I felt backed into a corner. I had just lived a double life for 18 months behind my family’s back.

“This had a massive mental toll over me and my family. It tore my family apart, they struggled to come to terms with the fact they sent me to school, where they believed it to be a safe environment, and this happened as a result. I attended school regularly and left with straight As.

“My parents broke down every day and night trying to get me to speak, I held many things back. I thought I would be better off dealing with things alone, as it is a rare case and not very relatable to others.

“One of the hardest things I had to deal with in this time was not being able to be involved in the pregnancy. Social services contacted me in October and told me that Rebecca had refused to let them update me about anything including, due date, gender, health updates. The thought of not being able to see my child was heartbreaking.

“I now also really struggle with the idea of going into another relationship, due to the negative experience I have gone through with Rebecca. Ultimately, I will forever be Rebecca‘s victim and forever linked to her through our child.”

Detective Constable Beth Alexander, of our Child Protection Investigation Unit in Salford, said:“Rebecca Joynes abused her position of trust as a teacher and used it to manipulate and abuse two boys. It is completely incomprehensible the impact this has had on those young men and their families. School should be a place of safety for children.

“It’s clear from some of the public commentary when Joynes was convicted that there is still a lack of understanding when it comes to men and boys being the victims of sexual offences. They have had to read comments stating others are ‘jealous’ of them, and that they should be’ happy a young female teacher was interested in them’, and this rhetoric is very damaging and dangerous.

“Women can still be paedophiles; this term is not reserved only for men. Men and boys can still be victims of sexual abuse. I would encourage anyone who wants to pass comment on this case really thinks before they speak, about the impact their words could have on not only those affected by this case, but others who are currently out there suffering.

“These victims have been incredibly brave speaking up about what has happened to them, and I hope this investigation gives other men and boys who may be being sexually exploited the confidence to come forward. We will take your allegations seriously and treat you with dignity and respect.

“Our commitment to protecting children is unwavering. Speaking out about sexual abuse is incredibly difficult, but I ask that those who believe they are going through something similar, report this to us. We will support you, investigate, and act robustly against perpetrators.”