A teacher accused of having sex with two teenage pupils has told a jury she ruined her “dream job” with stupid “mistakes”.

Rebecca Joynes denies having sex with the two boys but admitted, in Manchester Crown Court, to having broken safeguarding rules by being in contact with them on Snapchat and having them back to her apartment in Salford Quays.

The 30-year-old was already suspended from her job and on bail for alleged sexual activity with boy A, 15, when she allegedly took the virginity of a second boy, known as boy B, 16, who she later became pregnant by.

Joynes denies that any sexual activity took place with boy A – whose semen was recovered from her bedsheets.

In court she also maintains that the relationship with boy B only began after he had left school and she had lost her job, so no legal offence was committed.

The court heard how she later wrote to boy B, saying: “Every inch of you is perfect. You are all I ever dream about.”

Joynes said: “This was a year after he left school. I was in love with him. I was pregnant with his child.”

She also described teaching as her “dream job” but said she had “ruined” her chances of working in the profession after making “mistakes”.

On Tuesday, the defendant was cross-examined by Joe Allman, prosecuting, for a second day, as he pointed out “similarities” in both cases.

Mr Allman alleged that both boys were 15 when she began taking them into her flat and she communicated with both on Snapchat – where messages are deleted and not recoverable by police.

In both cases, the activity was a secret from their parents and they both flirted with her, boy A, calling her “sexy” and boy B, sending her a message saying, “Get your tits out”.

“What did you reply?” Mr Allman said.

“Laughing faces,” Joynes replied.

But instead of shutting down such behaviour, Mr Allman accused Joynes of giving “ambiguous” responses.

The ex-teacher maintained that sex with boy B only began after he had turned 16 and left school, and she had been dismissed from her job.

But boy B told the jury that while he was still at school, Joynes straddled and kissed him at her flat and then on a second occasion they had sex.

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This was after Joynes had been arrested, suspended from her job and bailed as police investigated allegations of contact with boy A.

She claimed that boy B contacted her to see how she was and she liked the attention, as she was lonely, and a friendship grew.

The court heard they would go for walks and he would visit her flat as she preferred staying in her apartment in Salford rather than with her parents on the Wirral.

Joynes said: “Speaking to my family, I had made mistakes, I had basically ruined my chances with my dream job.”

Mr Allman said that Joynes had a supportive family, sister and a best friend back home but instead chose the company of a 15-year-old boy.

“How on Earth can that second scenario be a draw for you?” Mr Allman said.

Joynes said: “I was stupid but I did choose that option, obviously I was breaking my bail conditions.”

The defendant claimed that after the relationship became sexual, it soured and she said that boy B became “controlling”.

Mr Allman said: “Let’s look at the reality of the situation. You were 29, living in a flat, had a good income, drove an Audi A1.

“He was a child, you were an adult. He was a pupil, you were a teacher.

“He lived with his mum and dad, they were not supposed to know about your liaisons with him. Who was controlling who?”

Jurors heard Joynes and boy B rowed and could not decide on whether to keep the baby or have an abortion.

Boy B claims he tried to end the relationship but did not know how to, called her a “paedo” and told her to find someone her own age but claimed emotional pressure came from Joynes to keep their relationship going.

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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 was adjourned until Wednesday morning.

The frustration and despair of Tory MPs felt towards Rishi Sunak’s top team is revealed in leaked WhatsApp messages obtained by Sky News.

One MP called the parliamentary operation a “shitshow” and “crazy”, while another said they were “at a loss” at the handling of a crunch Monday night vote on excluding MPs arrested on suspicion of serious sexual or violent offences.

They echo comments Tory MPs have made privately to Sky News.

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There is fury today among Tory MPs after most found themselves on the losing side of a vote on a Lib Dem and Labour motion to exclude any MP arrested for a serious offence from the parliamentary estate, which would bring Westminster into line with many other workplaces.

The bulk of Tory MPs backed a different plan – to exclude MPs at the point of charge, arguing that MPs could easily become the target of vexatious complaints.

It was a free vote, which meant MPs did not have to vote on party lines.

However, in a move that baffled Conservative MPs, when the Commons came to vote to overturn the opposition motion, the Tory whips did not put up “tellers” – vote counters – and so it could not be held, meaning the opposition motion passed.

This often happens because of disorganisation or confusion about events in the chamber, and often marks a failing of either the Tory whips or the Commons leader’s office – figures appointed by Mr Sunak.

The WhatsApps show a government minister – Anne Marie Trevelyan – summoning Tories after initially losing the Lib Dem vote: “Anyone on estate who didn’t vote on amendment O please return asap! Lost amend by one vote. Otherwise the decision is arrest Not charge.”

Other Tories – Jill Mortimer and Jack Brereton – add weight to the appeal to vote down the Lib Dem motion, as does minister Greg Hands.

Brendan Clarke-Smith calls the Lib Dem plan to exclude MPs from parliament on arrest “an attack on basic civil liberties”.

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However, Cambridgeshire MP Anthony Browne suddenly announces three minutes later: “Division off!”

There is incredulity with Pauline Latham demanding to know what has happened, adding: “This is crazy.”

Miriam Cates explains to colleagues there were no tellers, Angela Richardson says “what a shitshow!”, Andrea Leadsom says “A sad day”. Ms Cates says: “I am completely at a loss to understand why those of us who shouted ‘no’ were not told that there were no tellers” – indicating frustration with Mr Sunak’s parliamentary operation.

Mr Clarke-Smith says: “Angela better hope her interview goes well then. Unbelievable.” This is a reference to Angela Rayner, who is currently under police investigation and could be interviewed under caution in coming weeks. She denies all allegations and has not been arrested and Labour says this will not happen, but even if she were, she would not be excluded because the reason for arrest is unlikely to pass the serious offence test.

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The dialogue concludes with Mr Brereton saying: “We’re all going to be banned from the estate now…” and Ms Cates saying, “Watch the vexatious complaints roll in…”

One Tory said there was an “end of days vibe” in the Tory Party and the messages were evidence of a “meltdown” because the Tory whips can’t handle simple votes.

They too call it a “shitshow”.

A man who bludgeoned his friend with a hammer after they had a falling out has been jailed for at least 15 years for murder.

John Young, 33, wrestled the weapon from 46-year-old James Hynes during a fight and went on to inflict “nine or 10 blows” to his head and body.

Mr Hynes died in hospital several weeks later due to “complication from blunt force head trauma”.

Young pleaded guilty to murder at the High Court in Edinburgh last month and was handed a life sentence with at least 15 years behind bars on Tuesday.

Judge Lady Haldane said: “Not only have you taken his life, but you have deprived his family of a much-loved father, partner and grandfather.

“Nothing I say or do today can alter that tragic reality or truly reflect the loss that his family have suffered.”

The attack occurred in Livingston, West Lothian, on 21 July last year.

The court heard how Young had fallen out with Mr Hynes over “various issues” earlier that month.

Mr Hynes was in bed with his partner when an intoxicated Young began banging loudly on the window of the property.

A fight broke out and Mr Hynes, armed with a hammer, struck Young.

Young wrestled the weapon from Mr Hynes, with the fight ending with the victim lying on the ground.

Young initially walked away, but Lady Haldane said: “Tragically, you did not leave matters there but came back and inflicted nine or 10 blows with the hammer to Mr Hynes as he lay on the ground, telling him you were going to kill him.

“You did not achieve that aim immediately, but Mr Hynes did succumb to his injuries about a month later.

“Post-mortem results disclosed at least five blows with a heavy implement to Mr Hynes’ head and face.”

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Mr Hynes’ partner found him lying in the street and called for an ambulance.

He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he was found to have multiple skull fractures with bleeding and bruising on his brain.

Mr Hynes also suffered a traumatic brain injury, facial bone fractures, a fracture of the eye socket, multiple rib fractures and a fractured breastbone.

He required surgery to remove part of his skull to alleviate pressure on his brain, and was placed in an induced coma, intubated and remained in intensive care.

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Mr Hynes suffered a large bleed on his brain a few weeks later on 17 August, which led to “global irreversible brain injury”. His condition was deemed “unsurvivable”.

After discussions with his family, his life support was withdrawn on 19 August. Mr Hynes died later that day.

Shelagh McCall KC, representing Young, said he had suffered many “adverse” childhood experiences and that he had tried to cope with this by “self-medicating” with drink and drugs.

Ms McCall added: “He also wants me to convey his remorse at what he has done to Mr Hynes and for the suffering he has caused to his family.”