A former prison officer has been sentenced to three years behind bars after engaging in a sexual relationship with an inmate, smuggling drugs and mobile phones into custody, and exposing the identity of an informant.
Alicia Novas, 20, from Raunds in Northamptonshire, was employed at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough when she began her illicit relationship with prisoner Declan Winkless.
The 31-year-old inmate received a sentence of three years and four months, to run consecutively with his current term.
Both appeared via video link from HMP Peterborough and were sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Monday.
Novas had only started her role at the prison in July 2024, aged just 18, following training that emphasised the integrity expected of those in such positions of authority.
The court heard that Novas provided her personal telephone number to Winkless, who was serving an 11-year sentence for conspiracy to commit burglary.
Judge Rebecca Crane revealed that almost 3,000 messages were exchanged between the pair during the period covered by the indictment, with Winkless utilising four illicit devices.
Messages between them demonstrated that Winkless expressed romantic interest in the young officer, tempting her with offers of expensive gifts.
Alicia Novas (left) began an illicit relationship with prisoner Declan Winkless (right) at HMP Five Wells
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NORTHAMPTONSHIRE POLICE
By mid-November, the relationship had become physical, with sexual intercourse taking place.
Two recordings of Novas engaging in sexual activity whilst wearing her prison uniform were subsequently shared by Winkless on Snapchat.
The judge described Novas as “naive and immature,” noting that her youth and inexperience made her susceptible to manipulation.
On November 23, 2024, Winkless enquired about “who the snitch was,” prompting Novas to disclose the name of a fellow prisoner along with details of what authorities knew or suspected about Winkless’s activities.
The pair were sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Monday
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PAJudge Crane stated that “this put the informant at very considerable risk to his personal safety” and “undermined any prison investigation”.
The judge emphasised that “even an inexperienced and naive prison officer would know that prisoners who are suspected of being informants are often victims of very serious violence”.
Despite being arrested on December 23, 2024, and released on bail with explicit conditions forbidding contact with Winkless, Novas persisted in communicating with him.
Approximately 400 further exchanges occurred between the pair following her arrest, continuing until March 2025.
Winkless recorded footage of the duo having sex at HMP Five Wells before sharing it on social media
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PA
Her defence counsel, Liam Muir, told the court that Novas suffered from emotionally unstable personality disorder, which had not been diagnosed at the time of her offending.
Winkless’s additional sentence will be served on top of the 11-year term he is already serving for aggravated burglary offences.
Detective Inspector Richard Cornell, from the East Midlands Regional Prisons Intelligence Unit, said the sentences “reflect the gravity of the multitude of offences committed”.
He added that Winkless “undoubtedly encouraged this relationship and the unprofessional and illegal conduct carried out by Novas.”
However, Mr Cornell stressed this “does not in any way excuse the wilful misconduct of Novas, who was well aware of the standards expected of her as prison officer in a position of responsibility and trust”.