Prison officer and prisoner sentenced for misconduct in public office and smuggling offences

A former prison officer and inmate who had a sexual relationship at HMP Five Wells have been jailed for a total of six years and four months after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office and prison smuggling offences.

Twenty-year-old prison officer Alicia Novas from Raunds and thirty-one-year-old inmate Declan Winkless admitted misconduct last year.

Northampton Crown Court previously heard how prison custody officer Novas gave Winkless her phone number, failed to report his possession of a phone and cannabis, and entered into a sexual relationship with him.

Novas was sentenced to a total of three years for the following offences:

• Two counts of misconduct in a public office.

• Two charges of without authority transmitting / causing the transmission of an image/sound from a prison, contrary to the Prison Act 1952.

• Two counts of bringing / throwing / conveying a List ' A ' prohibited article into / out of a prison, contrary to the Prison Act 1952.

Winkless, who is already currently serving 11-years for aggravated burglary, was sentenced to a total of three years and four months for the following offences, to be served consecutively:

-Two counts of misconduct in a public office.

-Two charges of without authority transmitting / causing the transmission of an image / sound from a prison, contrary to the Prison Act 1952.

-Two counts of bringing/ throwing / conveying a List ' A ' prohibited article into / out of a prison, contrary to the Prison Act 1952.

• One charge of, without authority, possessing inside a prison an item specified in section 40D(3B) of the Prison Act 1952.

All offences took place at took place at HMP Five Wells, Wellingborough and HMP Peterborough between August 1, 2024, and March 21, 2025.

Following sentencing, Detective Inspector Richard Cornell, from the East Midlands Regional Prisons Intelligence Unit, said:

“These sentences reflect the gravity of the multitude of offences committed. Novas had only just begun her career as a prison officer, having taken up her position in July 2024. This followed completion of training which would have strongly emphasised the honesty, integrity and professionalism expected of someone in such a position of authority.

“Unfortunately Novas used her position to form an inappropriate relationship with Winkless and to breach public trust and confidence further by illegally passing on information and smuggling drugs and mobile phones to him.

“Winkless undoubtedly encouraged this relationship and the unprofessional and illegal conduct carried out by Novas, and this is reflected in the charges he also faced and the sentence he has now received, added to the lengthy prison term he is already serving for aggravated burglary.

“However, that does not in any way excuse the wilful misconduct of Novas, who was well aware of the standards expected of her as prison officer in a position of responsibility and trust.

“I would like to thank our counter-corruption colleagues from His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) and G4S, who we work with closely to root out corruption and offending in prisons.

“I would also like to emphasise that Novas’s conduct does not reflect the actions of the vast majority of prison staff who carry out their duties to the highest standards and with the greatest integrity.

“I hope the sentences handed down today send a clear message to those in positions of authority, that corrupt and illegal conduct and inappropriate behaviour that undermines public trust, will be robustly dealt with using the full force of the law.”