In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Alicia Novas, then 20, of Holdenby Drive, Raunds, Northamptonshire, was sentenced to three years in prison. On Monday, 2 February 2026, Novas appeared at Northampton Crown Court for a serious breach of public trust while working as a prison officer at HMP Five Wells.
The investigation established that between August 2024 and March 2025, Novas entered into a sexual relationship with serving prisoner Declan Winkless, 31. She provided him with her personal number, leading to nearly 3,000 contacts, including video calls and messages. Novas smuggled cannabis and mobile phones into the Wellingborough facility and passed sensitive information to Winkless regarding a suspected prisoner informant, potentially placing that individual in danger.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Rebecca Crane emphasised that the case represented a deliberate effort to exploit an improper relationship. The court reported that two videos of Novas having sexual intercourse in her prison uniform were shared on Snapchat and eventually reached the national press. The prosecution emphasised that, even after her arrest and resignation in December 2024, Novas showed no remorse, immediately resuming contact with Winkless and making a further 400 calls while on bail.
The prosecution emphasised that Winkless, formerly of South Wigston, Leicestershire, was a persistent offender who encouraged the corruption to maintain access to contraband. The judge emphasised that Novas’ actions undermined the security of HMP Five Wells and the safety of the staff and inmates. For her crimes in Northamptonshire, the court determined that a significant custodial sentence was required to uphold professional standards and public confidence.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For her crimes in Raunds and Wellingborough, Alicia Novas was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Three years in immediate custody.
- Convictions: Admitted misconduct in public office, bringing cannabis and phones into prison, and unauthorised communication.
- Co-Defendant: Declan Winkless was handed an additional three years and four months to run consecutively to his current 11-year term.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Novas is now an inmate within the HM Prison Service system she once served. Her history of betrayal of security protocols and the distribution of explicit material means her conduct will be under scrutiny during her incarceration.
Authorities in Northamptonshire state that the nature of passing informant details is a security breach that remains a matter of ongoing concern. Any further attempts to communicate with Winkless or other inmates will result in disciplinary action and potential further charges. Upon her eventual release, Novas will be subject to licence conditions to prevent further associations with criminal elements.
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