In a case a judge labeled "astonishing" in its arrogance, a former secondary school math teacher has been permanently banned from the classroom after receiving a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence for sexually abusing two of her male pupils—one of whom she later had a child with while on bail.
Rebecca Joynes, 30, was convicted last year on multiple counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust. A professional misconduct panel has now issued an indefinite prohibition order, concluding her actions were "extremely serious offences" that constituted "unacceptable professional conduct" and gravely damaged public trust in the teaching profession.
A Deliberate Grooming Campaign and a Broken Trust
The court heard how Joynes initiated contact with her first victim, a 15-year-old student, in 2021 by giving him part of her phone number and encouraging him to guess the rest, sparking flirtatious text exchanges. She escalated the relationship by buying the boy a £345 Gucci belt during a meeting at the Selfridges department store, before taking him to her flat for sex. The boy's bragging to friends, including sharing a photo as proof, ultimately led to school authorities contacting his mother and triggering a police investigation.
Joynes was subsequently arrested and bailed on the strict condition she have no contact with anyone under 18. She violated this order with what the judge called "breathtaking gall" by pursuing a second 15-year-old pupil.
"I Love My Daddy": A Child Born from Abuse
With this second victim, known as Boy B, the relationship turned explicitly sexual after he turned 16. Joynes sent him intimate photos and notes describing him as "perfect," and invited him to her flat where they had sex on at least 30 occasions in various locations.
The most chilling detail emerged when Joynes, who had told the boy it was "nearly impossible" for her to get pregnant, later presented him with a babygrow outfit inscribed: "I love my daddy to the moon and back." The two would eventually have a child together, a permanent consequence of the abuse.
A Lifetime Ban and Judicial Condemnation
Sentencing Joynes in July of last year, Judge Kate Cornell condemned her "astonishing arrogance" and the profound abuse of her position of trust. The misconduct panel chairman, Phil Thompson, stated her actions represented "extensive breaches of professional boundaries."
Joynes, who sobbed as she was sent to prison, is now formally barred from ever teaching again. The panel's decision underscores a zero-tolerance stance on educators who exploit their authority, ensuring that a breach of this magnitude results in a permanent removal from the profession. The case serves as a grim reminder of the devastating and lifelong impact such predatory behaviour has on victims, families, and the integrity of the education system itself.
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