A prison officer has been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with an inmate after allegedly providing him with her phone number. Alicia Novas, aged 19, and Declan Winkless, aged 30, were individually brought before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on charges of misconduct in public office at HMP Five Wells between August and December of the previous year.
According to the charges, Novas is accused of abusing the public’s trust by sharing her phone number with Winkless, not reporting his possession of a phone and cannabis, and getting involved in a sexual relationship with him. Another charge alleges that on November 23, 2024, Novas shared information about whether Winkless was under suspicion by prison authorities. Winkless is said to have encouraged and aided both offenses.
Furthermore, both defendants face charges related to making illegal electronic transmissions from the prison, smuggling cannabis into the facility, and sneaking mobile phones inside HMP Five Wells, located near Wellingborough. Another charge involves an illegal electronic transmission of an image at HMP Peterborough between December 2024 and March of the following year. Winkless, previously of South Wigston, Leicestershire, and currently at HMP Swaleside in Kent, also faces a charge of unauthorized possession of a mobile phone with a sim card at Five Wells on December 22 of the previous year.
During the court hearings, neither defendant entered a plea and they were instructed to appear at Northampton Crown Court on December 1. Novas, dressed in a white top and black trousers, attended the court in person, while Winkless appeared via a prison video-link. The female defendant, a resident of Raunds, Northamptonshire, was granted bail with strict conditions, including no contact with Winkless, any serving HMP prisoner, or visiting any prison without prior approval.