A 19-year-old prison officer and a 30-year-old inmate have admitted to a secret sexual relationship behind bars, sparking outrage and raising serious security concerns at HMP Five Wells.
Couple’s Guilty Plea at Northampton Crown Court
Alicia Novas, just 19, and inmate Declan Winkless, 30, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office. Novas, a custody officer, handed Winkless her phone number and turned a blind eye to his possession of cannabis and mobile phones.
Winkless appeared via video link from HMP Swaleside to answer the charges. Their offences took place between August and December 2024 at the Northamptonshire prison.
Serious Charges Laid Bare
- Both admitted misconduct on a separate November 23, 2024 charge.
- Novas “wilfully misconducted” herself, betraying the public’s trust.
- Winkless assisted and encouraged Novas’s breaches.
- They unlawfully transmitted images and sounds from inside prison walls.
- The pair smuggled cannabis and two mobile phones into the Category C facility near Wellingborough.
- They also pleaded guilty to sending unauthorised images linked to HMP Peterborough from December 2024 to March 2025.
- Winkless admitted possessing a SIM card device without permission on December 22, 2024.
Trust Betrayed: A Warning for Prison Security
Novas’s actions shocked the court, revealing a disastrous breach of duty and public trust. Winkless, from South Wigston, Leicestershire, actively helped the misconduct unfold.
Their guilty pleas highlight serious security weaknesses and the dangers of forbidden staff-inmate relationships, putting prison safety under the spotlight.
