A female prison officer has pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office after admitting to performing a sex act on an inmate she was responsible for guarding.
Guilty Plea Entered for Prison Relationship
Rebecca Pinckard, 46, from Newmarket in Suffolk, was in a relationship with a prisoner at HMP Highpoint in Stradishall between April and July 2024. She was arrested and charged with wilfully neglecting her duty and misconducting herself as a holder of public office.
Pinckard initially appeared at Suffolk Magistrates' Court on 5 November without entering a plea. A trial preparation hearing was scheduled for 3 December at Cambridge Crown Court. However, on 19 November, she admitted the offence and was told she will be sentenced on 19 January 2025.
Details of the Offence and Investigation
According to court documents, Pinckard was specifically responsible for the inmate with whom she had the relationship. The admitted misconduct included performing oral sex on the prisoner and sending them a card.
The case was uncovered following an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), which represents seven police forces in eastern England. A spokesperson for ERSOU confirmed last July that they had been made aware of an alleged inappropriate relationship at the Suffolk prison.
Detective Inspector Puneet Netar, from ERSOU's regional organised crime unit, stated: 'Rebecca Pinckard clearly abused her position as a prison officer and made a conscious decision to enter into a relationship with an inmate. Public trust in the justice system depends on integrity.'
Linked Case and Prison Background
Her case is linked with a prisoner named Erion Nakdi, 42, who pleaded guilty to possessing a mobile phone in Highpoint prison between 2 and 6 July last year. It was not disclosed in court whether Nakdi was the inmate involved with Pinckard.
HMP Highpoint, which houses around 1,300 male inmates as a 'training and resettlement' jail, has held several famous prisoners in the past including:
- Racing legend Lester Piggott
- Singers George Michael and Boy George
- Moors murderer Myra Hindley (at the time of her death in 2002)
The prison, located on a former RAF base, was rated as overall 'reasonably good' in an unannounced inspection report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in October 2023.
