Teacher 'liked attention' but denies sex with boys

Rebecca Joynes said she should not have had any contact with the boys

A teacher told a court she felt lonely and "liked" attention after a break-up but denied charges of sexual activity with teenagers.

Rebecca Joynes, 30, told Manchester Crown Court she had struggled in the Covid lockdown and with a relationship breakdown.

She was suspended from her high school job and on bail for alleged sexual activity with Boy A, 15, when she allegedly took the virginity of a second boy, 16, who she later became pregnant by.

Ms Joynes denies six charges of sexual activity with two teenagers while she was a teacher.

Neither teenager can be identified for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Joe Allman began by asking Ms Joynes under cross examination if she was trying for sympathy from the jury as she had a pink baby's bonnet tucked into the top of her trousers.

"No. Definitely not," Ms Joynes said. "I sleep with this every night."

Mr Allman continued: "When an adult has an inappropriate relationship with a child, of 13, 14, 15, that's the adult's responsibility, nothing to do with the child being provocative, or making the first move, or trying to get the adult's number, is it?"

'Swapping Snapchat messages'

"No," Ms Joynes replied.

Mr Allman asked: "Did you have a powerful sexual attraction to boys aged 15?"

"Not at all," Ms Joynes said.

Mr Allman said Boy A stayed at her flat, and evidence of sexual activity was found.

When Boy B went back to her flat she became pregnant by him.

The prosecutor reminded jurors Boy A lied to his mother to see Ms Joynes, who picked him up in her car and took him to the Trafford Centre where she bought him a £350 Gucci belt, before going back to her flat in Salford Quays.

Earlier, Ms Joynes admitted she swapped messages on Snapchat with Boy A and agreed for him to stay at her apartment but he slept on her sofa.

Questioned by her barrister, Michael O'Brien, she said she planned to order food but Boy A said he was not hungry, before adding: "I think you know what I want to do?"

Ms Joynes said: "I laughed awkwardly and went to join him on the couch.

'I liked the attention'

"I thought he wanted something to happen. There was no way that was going to happen.

"I explained I had been in a nine-year relationship and really struggled with the break-up and I'm not that kind of person."

She added: "As a teacher I should never have engaged in any form of contact.

"I caved in to the attention he was giving me. I struggled massively over the Covid period.

"I was obviously lonely and I liked the attention at the time."

She was arrested, suspended from work and bailed while police investigated the allegations about Boy A.

At this time Ms Joynes was in touch with Boy B on social media, despite a ban on contacting anyone under 18.

Joynes said she was "curious" about Boy B contacting her on Snapchat and she "genuinely believed" he cared.

She claimed they only had sex after she was sacked which was when she fell pregnant.

Their daughter was taken from her following an emergency court hearing 24 hours after delivery.

She is allowed contact three times a week for three hours.

Ms Joynes denies six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, including two while being a person in a position of trust.

The trial continues.