A woman formerly employed as a prison officer has confessed to making unauthorized phone calls to a violent inmate convicted for a brutal machete assault. Heather Pinchbeck, aged 28, admitted to engaging in misconduct while working at HMP Dovegate in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, where Joseph Hardy, 31, was serving a sentence for grievous bodily harm. Pinchbeck’s actions, which occurred between February and March 2023, involved communicating with the prisoner using a prohibited mobile phone.
During a court hearing at Birmingham Crown Court, Pinchbeck pleaded guilty to the charge of misconduct in a public office. The prosecution, led by Antonie Muller, hinted at the possibility of addressing a second count during the sentencing phase. Pinchbeck’s legal team requested a pre-sentencing report, which was approved by the judge for submission before the sentencing scheduled for January 9, 2026.
Furthermore, Hardy faces charges related to illicit communications and possessing a mobile device while incarcerated. Pinchbeck, who currently works at a public relations agency, previously served in the HM Prison Service as a Prison Offender Manager.
Before Hardy was sentenced to 14 years in December 2017, the court heard about the altercation between him and the victim that led to the violent attack. Prosecutors described how Hardy retrieved a machete from his vehicle, unsheathed it, and assaulted the man at a location on May 4, 2017, resulting in severe injuries.
Emergency responders found the victim with significant injuries, including a nearly severed leg and head lacerations. The victim’s leg was amputated above the knee due to the severity of the injury, and medical examinations revealed a fractured skull.
During sentencing, Judge David Stockdale QC condemned Hardy’s actions as both brutal and cowardly, emphasizing the defenselessness of the victim and the severity of the sustained assault.