Disgraced high school teacher Rebecca Joynes ‘tried to go incognito’ as she spent her last day of freedom at a retail park ahead of being sentenced for six counts of sexual activity with a child
Rebecca Joynes stepped out her last day of freedom ‘hoping to remain anonymous’, a body language expert reveals.
The 30-year-old is facing a hefty prison spell after she was convicted in May of engaging two teenage boys in sexual relationships while working as a teacher. The court heard how Joynes also had a baby with one of the boys, who were aged 15 and 16 at the time they were targeted.
She also embarked on her relationship with the second, named only as Boy B, while suspended from her job and under police investigation for her first. A judge in May warned Joynes she should be “under no illusion” ahead of her sentencing on Thursday.
The shamed ex-teacher was pictured spending her last day of freedom at a retail park in Chester on Wednesday before she was due back before the courts. Cutting a tragic figure, body language expert Judi James said Joynes looked uncomfortable to be recognised while out on her errand – a far cry from the attempts to garner attention and sympathy outside court.
Judi told The Mirror: “This is a very different appearance from the rather high-profile and at times attention-seeking type of styling and body language Joynes was seen using while her trial was running. She appears to be alone here and there are several cues and clues from her body language that suggests she was hoping to be incognito.
“When her face is visible she presents a ‘poker face’ blankness of expression, making her almost unrecognisable from the woman sometimes photographed grinning as she left the courtroom. Her cap is worn brim-front, meaning her long hair is pulled up into a more anonymous ponytail while her face is thrown into shadow.”
During her court appearances, Joynes was seen tucking a baby’s bonnet into her trousers in apparent reference to the baby she had, in what was criticised in court by prosecutors as an attempt to gain the public’s sympathy.
Judi added that Joynes showed clear signs she was trying to hide her face during her trip, using her hands to stay as undercover as possible. “She uses her hands in a cut-off ritual, bringing them up to her face in what looks like a bid to act as a barrier or shield,” said Judi.
“In one photo she has made a V shape with her hand to provide almost total cover of her face and she holds her water bottle up to act as an added shield. At some point she also seems to have pulled her sleeves right down over her hands and fingers in what looks like an additional signal of a desire to hide.
“Apart from the desire for anonymity though there are no key signals to suggest vulnerability or tension. Her walk sees her appear to stride out with her arms swinging and there is no hunching of the shoulders in these photos.”
Joynes’ trial heard various details about how she abused her position of trust, contacting both boys on Snapchat and grooming them. One of the boys, both of who cannot be legally identified, was bought a £345 Gucci belt on a shopping trip to Selfridges before Joynes took him back to her flat and had sex with him, the court heard.
It was heard how Joynes planned a “date night” for Boy B, scattering her flat with rose petals and surprising him with a baby grow where she revealed she was pregnant. Greater Manchester Police were initially tipped off over Joynes’ relation with Boy A after it was raised with the school.
She was immediately suspended from her job and bailed on condition she speaks to nobody under the age of 18, which is when she began chatting to the second victim. Joynes is due to be sentenced on Thursday, July 4, at Manchester Crown Court.