A prison officer is accused of providing her phone number to an inmate and engaging in a sexual relationship with him.
Alicia Novas, aged 19, and Declan Winkless, aged 30, made separate appearances at Northampton Magistrates’ Court following charges of misconduct at HMP Five Wells between August and December last year.
According to the charges, Novas allegedly breached the public’s trust by sharing her phone number with Winkless, not reporting his possession of a phone and cannabis, and getting into a sexual relationship with him.
Another charge of misconduct was claimed to have occurred on November 23, 2024, where Novas disclosed information about suspicions regarding Winkless to prison authorities. The charges also mentioned that Winkless allegedly encouraged and aided in both offenses.
Both defendants are facing additional charges of illegal electronic transmission from the prison, bringing cannabis into the facility, and smuggling two mobile phones into HMP Five Wells near Wellingborough.
Another charge of illegal electronic transmission of an image relates to HMP Peterborough during the period between December 2024 and March this year. Winkless, originally from South Wigston, Leicestershire, and currently held at HMP Swaleside in Kent, faces an additional charge of unauthorized possession of a mobile phone with a sim card at Five Wells on December 22 last year.
During the hearings, neither defendant entered a plea and they were instructed to appear at Northampton Crown Court on December 1. Novas, from Raunds, Northamptonshire, was granted bail under certain conditions, including no contact with Winkless or any HMP inmate and no unscheduled visits to any prison.