A GB News guest was left fuming and claimed that the legal case would have been reported very differently if the maths teacher found guilty of having sex with two school pupils had been a man.
It comes after teacher Rebecca Joynes was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with two schoolboys.
Joynes, 30, was convicted on four counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of sexual activity with another child.
Speaking on GB News, former Detective Chief Inspector Mike Neville said: “The prosecution barrister made the point that if the teacher were called Roger and not Rebecca, then it would be treated in a far different way.
Mike Neville fumed over the reporting on the case
GB News
“People tend to sort of see this as though the boys have had some kind of good time or something where they’re the victims of sexual assault. And so she’ll face a lengthy prison sentence, it would seem.”
He later added: “People think if men do it, it’s some kind of a predatory thing, whereas a woman teacher is involved in all this, and it’s seen as some kind of teenage boys fantasy. But the reality is that it involves a sexual crime against minors and has got to be dealt with as such.”
He elaborated: “It’s a criminal act. Some people have had very strange responses which trivialise what is not a trivial matter in your experience, because this is being reported in various ways.”
Joynes became pregnant by the second underage schoolboy but the 30-year-old claimed no sexual activity took place.
The court heard she had told the boy she did not think she was able to conceive.
Joynes lost her job at the Greater Manchester school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, when the allegations came to light.
Joynes, who claimed she was lonely after coming out of a nine-year relationship, told the jury she had ruined her “dream job” with stupid “mistakes”.
Jane Wilson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Rebecca Joynes is a sexual predator.
“Joynes was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching and safeguarding children.
“She abused her position to groom and ultimately sexually exploit schoolboys. Her behaviour has had a lasting impact on them.
The former police detective thought she was treated differently due to her gender
GB News
“The CPS worked with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case to put before the jury, including eyewitness testimony, phone evidence showing the messages sent by Joynes and CCTV footage.
“I would like to thank the victims for supporting the prosecution. Joynes will now face the consequences of her actions.”
Joyne was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, including two while being a person in a position of trust, following a trial after nine hours of deliberation. Rebecca Joynes will return to Manchester Crown Court for sentencing on July 4.
