Teenage Prison Officer Sentenced for Inappropriate Relationship and Smuggling Offences
A young prison officer who engaged in a sexual relationship with an inmate and smuggled contraband into a correctional facility has been handed a custodial sentence following a serious breach of professional conduct.
Details of the Offences and Court Proceedings
Alicia Novas, now aged 20, appeared at Northampton Crown Court where she received a three-year prison term for multiple charges of misconduct in a public office. The court heard how Novas, who was employed as a prison officer at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, began an inappropriate relationship with inmate Declan Winkless, aged 31.
The prosecution presented evidence showing that Novas had shared her personal mobile number with Winkless, leading to nearly 3,000 messages exchanged between them during the indictment period. Winkless used four illegal mobile devices to facilitate this communication while serving an existing sentence of 11 years and 3 months for burglary conspiracies.
Compromising Security and Endangering Others
During sentencing on Monday, January 26, the judge detailed how Novas had compromised prison security by providing Winkless with confidential information about a fellow inmate who had cooperated with authorities. This action placed the informant at significant risk of serious violence and undermined ongoing prison investigations.
Judge Crane described Novas as "naive and immature" but emphasized that even inexperienced prison officers should recognize the dangers of sharing such sensitive information. "You failed to consider the seriousness of your actions and the potential impact on the security and safety of staff and prisoners," the judge stated during the proceedings.
Evidence Presented in Court
The court was shown two videos depicting Novas "engaging in sexual intercourse while in her prison uniform," footage that had been recorded by Winkless and subsequently shared on social media platform Snapchat before circulating more widely. The sexual relationship reportedly began in November 2024, with the misconduct occurring between August 1 and December 24 of that year.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including:
- Misconduct in a public office
- Unauthorised transmission of images or sound by electronic communication from within a prison
- Conveying prohibited articles into or out of a prison
The prohibited items included cannabis and two mobile phones that Novas had smuggled into the facility for Winkless's use.
Additional Sentences and Mitigating Factors
Winkless received an additional sentence of three years and four months to run consecutively with his existing term for his role in encouraging and assisting Novas's misconduct. Both defendants appeared via prison videolink from HMP Peterborough for their sentencing hearing.
Defence counsel Liam Muir highlighted that Novas was only 18 at the time of the offences and suffered from an undiagnosed emotionally unstable personality disorder during the period in question. The judge acknowledged these mitigating circumstances while maintaining the necessity of a custodial sentence given the severity of the breaches.
Impact on Prison Operations and Public Trust
A statement from a prison manager read in court emphasized how such offences "damage public trust and undermine prison security." The case has raised questions about vetting procedures and support mechanisms for young prison officers working in challenging environments.
The judge concluded that while Novas may have been vulnerable to manipulation due to her age and inexperience, she had multiple opportunities to report the situation to authorities and seek assistance, which she failed to do over a significant period.
