Rebecca Joynes, 30, groomed two pupils from age of 15, with one boy describing aftermath as ‘a very dark time’

A teenage boy has described how he was “coerced, controlled, manipulated, sexually abused, and mentally abused” as the Manchester teacher who victimised him was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Rebecca Joynes, 30, was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child, two while in a position of trust, after a trial in May.

Boundary changes, paper thickness and ace returning officer’s transfer could have a bearing on who declares first

One of the most notable quirks of a British election begins with the sound of running shoes squeaking on a sports hall’s varnished floor.

But balls and rackets are nowhere to be seen, because the activity is a lot more niche than the usual fare. It is part of the race to be the UK’s fastest election count – where ballot boxes filled with thousands of votes are opened, counted and collated before the result is declared less than 90 minutes after the last vote was cast.

After the convicted killer was refused permission to appeal, she has few options left

• Spectators and an elephant in the room during retrial

Lucy Letby was convicted last year of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the Countess of Chester hospital in north-west England, where she worked as a nurse. She is serving 14 whole-life sentences, meaning she will never be released from prison.

In April she sought permission to appeal against those convictions at the court of appeal in London, and in May her challenge was refused. On Tuesday the court published its judgment explaining its decision. Here we explain what steps she has taken – and what could happen next.

In the Lincolnshire constituency of Grantham, a statue of the Iron Lady reflects a sense of loyalty that is now wavering

• General election live: latest updates

There were hints of a sunny afternoon in Grantham on Monday when the skies kept clouding over, producing on-off moments of drizzle. But if the weather was undecided, that was nothing compared to the voters, with less than two days left until the general election.

“We watched the debates but we still don’t know,” said John Lyon, a retired bricklayer going to the bank with his wife, Jane, a retired chef.