JOANNE Curtis was just 16 when she was groomed by rugby league footballer and father-of-two Chris Dawson.
Chris’s murder of his wife Lynette Simms and his affair with Joanne is explored in ITV’s series Twisted Twins, but there is much more to Joanne’s life than her relationship with Chris. Here’s everything you need to know about the babysitter.
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Teen babysitter
Joanne was a pupil at Cromer High School, where Chris Dawson was a P.E. teacher.
She became the babysitter to his two daughters Shanelle and Sherryn, whom he had with Lynette.
Unbeknownst to Lynette, Joanne and Chris had begun a relationship even though he was a teacher at his school and she was just 16 years old.
In January 1982, Lynette suddenly disappeared and, within two days, Joanne had been moved into the house.
Chris reported Lyn as missing six weeks after she disappeared and claimed that she had joined a religious commune.
Chris Dawson’s second wife
Joanne was given Lynette’s clothes and even her wedding ring, which she wore around the house.
Shanelle said in her book that she felt “unloved” by Joanne, whom she only refers to as “J”.
The book, entitled My Mother’s Eyes, also says that Joanne “didn’t want to be my mother and she certainly wasn’t.”
By 1983, just a year after Lyn had vanished, Chris filed for divorce from his missing wife.
Then, in 1984, he married Joanne and she later gave birth to a daughter named Kirsten.
Chris and Joanne later divorced in 1993.
Star witness at Chris’ trial
For decades, no one was caught for Lynn’s murder despite the fact that two coronial inquests found that she had been murdered by someone close to her.
Eventually, an investigative podcast named The Teacher’s Pet, hosted by Hedly Thomas, examined Lyn’s disappearance.
By December 2018, the podcast had been downloaded 28 million times.
Chris was arrested that same month and it was later announced during the tiral that Joanne would be a star witness.
In December 2022, Chris was found guilty of Lynette’s murder and sentenced to 24 years in prison.
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ITV’s Twisted Twins
The ITV series Twisted Twins, which details how Chris was caught for Lynette’s murder, will begin on October 1, 2024.
TV watchers can catch the show when it airs at 9pm, but viewers can also catch up on ITVX.
The second episode of Twisted Twins will air on October 8, 2024.
