A young prison officer who engaged in a sexual relationship with a violent armed burglar while he was incarcerated, before footage of their encounters was posted online, has been sentenced to three years in prison. Alicia Novas, aged 20, from Raunds in Northamptonshire, was working as a custodial officer at HMP Five Wells when she began a four-month fling with inmate Declan Winkless, 31.
Serious Breaches of Trust and Security
Novas pleaded guilty last year to multiple charges, including misconduct in public office, smuggling mobile phones into the prison, unauthorised communications within a prison, and smuggling cannabis. The court heard that the pair exchanged nearly 3,000 messages, with Novas continuing to contact Winkless 400 times even after her arrest, in direct violation of her bail conditions.
Passing sentence at Northampton Crown Court, Judge Rebecca Crane highlighted the gravity of Novas's actions. She stated, 'Given your age and inexperience you were vulnerable to being manipulated. However, you could easily have reported matters to the prison authorities and sought assistance. You persisted in having contact over a significant period even after your arrest.'
Compromising Prison Safety and Informing on a 'Snitch'
Judge Crane emphasised that Novas failed to consider the serious implications of her behaviour, which undermined the security and safety of both staff and prisoners at the Category C facility. In a particularly alarming development, Novas provided Winkless with the name of an inmate who had acted as an informant for the prison authorities when he inquired about the identity of a 'snitch'.
'Even an inexperienced and naive prison officer would know that prisoners who are suspected of being informants are often victims of very serious violence,' the judge remarked, underscoring the dangerous consequences of such disclosures.
Background of the Offenders and Their Crimes
Declan Winkless is currently serving an 11-year sentence for his involvement in a series of terrifying armed burglaries across Leicestershire. These raids involved homeowners being held captive, with victims including a pregnant mother, a three-year-old child who was struck across the face, a 63-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack after being dragged from her bed, and an elderly woman who sustained a broken eye socket.
Novas began her employment at the privately-run HMP Five Wells, operated by G4S, in July 2024 after completing a five-week training course. By the following month, she had already given her phone number to Winkless, who used illegal mobile phones within the prison to initiate contact, express romantic interest, and promise her expensive gifts.
Escalation of the Relationship and Widespread Distribution of Videos
Their relationship turned sexual by November 2024. Winkless subsequently sent two videos depicting Novas engaging in sexual activity while wearing her prison uniform to Snapchat users. These videos were widely distributed and eventually reached the press, bringing significant attention to the case.
In addition to the sexual misconduct, Novas smuggled phones, SIM cards, tobacco, and cannabis into the prison for Winkless. A search of his cell on December 22, 2024, uncovered a Motorola phone, which contained evidence of a £250 bank transfer to Novas's account from the partner of another inmate.
Sentencing and Mitigating Factors
Novas was arrested on December 23, 2024, and initially made no comment during police interviews. She later admitted to the sexual relationship but denied smuggling items into the prison. Her defence lawyer, Liam Muir, informed the court that Novas had been diagnosed with emotional unstable personality disorder following childhood trauma, describing her as a 'very vulnerable individual' who was just 18 when the offending began.
Winkless pleaded guilty to charges including encouraging and assisting misconduct in a public office, unauthorised communication from within a prison, smuggling cannabis and mobile phones, and unauthorised possession of a communication device. He was sentenced to three years and four months, to run consecutively with his existing term.
Judge Crane noted that while Winkless was not in a position of trust, he was older and more experienced, using that to manipulate Novas. 'You assisted her in the abuse of her position of trust, which you knew was serious. This offending occurred over a prolonged period, including after Novas' arrest,' she stated. An aggravating factor was his decision to post the videos on social media.
Post-Sentencing Statements and Broader Implications
Following the case, Detective Inspector Richard Cornell commented, '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.'
He added, '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.'
The case highlights significant vulnerabilities within prison security protocols and the severe repercussions for those who abuse positions of authority, particularly in environments where safety and order are paramount.
