A former prison officer has been sent to jail after admitting to a sexual relationship with a prisoner and smuggling drugs and phones into a jail.
Alicia Novas, 20, worked at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. While on duty, she became involved with inmate Declan Winkless, 31, and passed on prohibited items and sensitive information.
Novas admitted six offences, including misconduct in public office, and was sentenced to three years in prison at Northampton Crown Court.
Winkless, who encouraged Novas to commit the offences, was jailed for three years and four months. His sentence will be added to the prison term he is already serving.
The court heard that Novas began working at the prison in July 2024, aged just 18. She gave Winkless her personal phone number a few months later, and their relationship quickly became sexual. Prosecutors said the pair exchanged thousands of messages, calls and video calls over several months.
Novas admitted bringing cannabis and two mobile phones into the prison and passing on the identity of a prisoner informant. Prosecutors described her actions as a serious breach of trust that put staff and inmates at risk.
She was arrested in December 2024 after a phone was found in Winkless’s cell. Although she resigned days later, she continued contacting him while on bail.
The judge said Novas had been vulnerable to manipulation but stressed she had multiple chances to report the situation. Winkless, who has a long criminal record, was described as exploiting her inexperience.
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