Prison scandal: 19-year-old officer admits illegal relationship and smuggling

01 December 2025 , 15:25

830     0

Prison scandal: 19-year-old officer admits illegal relationship and smuggling

Alicia Novas, 19, and 30-year-old Declan Winkless appeared in court today to admit several offenses committed between August last year and March this year.

Prosecutors did not detail the facts during the short hearing, but the court heard the pair had a sexual relationship.

Novas also admitted to smuggling cannabis and two mobile phones into HMP Five Wells, a Category C prison in Northamptonshire.

She also admitted charges arising from giving her phone number to Winkless and failing to report his possession of a phone and drugs.

Winkless, who has since been transferred to HMP Swaleside in Kent, also pleaded guilty to charges relating to the same offenses and admitted to an additional charge of possessing a mobile phone with a SIM card without permission.

Novas was previously on conditional bail but was remanded into custody after the hearing.

The pair are due to be sentenced on January 5.

Thomas Brown

Head of Investigations