Teenagers ‘put the boot’ on teacher accused of having sex with pupils, court told

The defense in the trial of a teacher accused of having sex with two teenagers claimed the alleged victims were “lying” and “putting the boot”.

Rebecca Joynes, 30, denies six charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child. The claims were made during closing arguments by the defense at Manchester Crown Court today, Wednesday 15 May.

Jurors at Manchester Crown Court previously heard that Joynes had groomed a pupil, Boy A, with a shopping trip to the Trafford Center before having sex with him. She then became pregnant with another teenager, Boy B.

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In his closing speech for the defense this afternoon, Michael O’Brien said the first complainant, Boy A, lied about what happened between him and Joynes, while the second complainant , Boy B, “put the boot on” while being interviewed by detectives, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Mr O’Brien said: “Of course he wants to do things differently – he did what he did and put up with it. She is not proud of it, it has disappointed her and her family. She feels guilty – does that mean you find her guilty without considering the evidence in the case?

“Does that mean you find her guilty for meeting two students outside of school? It may be wrong, but it is not a crime.”

Mr O’Brien said Boy A initially denied anything had happened to Joynes, claiming it was all just “banter” with his friends that got out of hand in a group chat.

The lawyer said that after the contact between Boy A and Joynes on Snapchat, the teenager bragged to his friends that he was “going to cheat” on the teacher.

Mr O’Brien continued: “Would he lose face with his friends if he said, ‘Well, lads, I’ve been told to sleep on the sofa’?”

Defense counsel said Boy B gave “vague and inconsistent answers” to questions. He said Joynes and Boy B were in a “perfectly legal relationship” which the teenager chose to “twist the dates” and “put the boot on” to say the sex started earlier when he was at school and was 15 years old.

Mr O’Brien said Boy B was a “self-confessed liar” after he admitted lying in his first police interview to “protect” Joynes.

As for the pink baby bonnet that Joynes tucked into her trousers, prosecutors previously claimed it was to “draw sympathy” from jurors. But Mr O’Brien said it was instead a source of comfort for his client.

He added: “She didn’t have to testify – she doesn’t have to prove she’s innocent.”

During the afternoon, presiding judge Kate Cornell briefly summarized the evidence in the case. Jurors are expected to retire to consider their deliberations Thursday morning.

Joynes, of Pensby Road, Wirral, denies two charges of sexual activity with Boy A; two cases of sexual activity with boy B; and two counts of sexual activity with boy B while a person in a position of trust.

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