Key Points
- Declan Winkless, 31, was serving an 11-year sentence for aggravated burglary when he became involved with prison officer Alicia Novas.
- Winkless was initially given three years and four months for seven offences including prison smuggling and misconduct in a public office.
- The Court of Appeal quashed that sentence on 30 June 2026 and replaced it with a five-year term, reports Leicestershire Live.
- Alicia Novas, 20, admitted six offences including misconduct in a public office and was sentenced to three years in January 2026, which remains unchanged.
- Novas smuggled cannabis, tobacco and two mobile phones into HMP Five Wells and HMP Peterborough and passed confidential intelligence, including the identity of a prison informant.
- Detective Inspector Richard Cornell said the sentences reflect the gravity of the offences and noted Novas had only just begun her career as a prison officer on 1 July 2024.
- The relationship began in November 2024 and involved inappropriate conduct, breaches of public trust and illegal passing of information.
- The Court of Appeal found Winkless’s original sentence unduly lenient following a submission by the Solicitor General.
- Winkless, formerly of Kirkdale Road, South Wigston, has already been convicted of aggravated burglary and is serving the longer term.
- The case has drawn attention to risks of inmate–officer relationships and security breaches in UK prisons.
UK (Liverpool standard) – Judges in the Court of Appeal decided that the initial sentence handed to Declan Winkless did not properly reflect the seriousness of his conduct. As reported by a journalist covering the case for Leicestershire Live, the court found his three-year-and-four-month term for prison smuggling and misconduct in a public office to be unduly lenient.
On Tuesday, 30 June 2026, the original sentence was quashed following a submission to the Court of Appeal on behalf of the Solicitor General. In its place, the court imposed an increased term of five years’ imprisonment, as reported by Leicestershire Live. This decision means Winkless will now serve a longer period in custody for the offences linked to his relationship with the prison officer and the smuggling activities.
Winkless, 31, formerly of Kirkdale Road, South Wigston, is already serving an 11-year sentence for aggravated burglary. The new five-year term will be added in relation to the seven offences he pleaded guilty to at Northampton Crown Court in January 2026, according to court records and media coverage.
How Did the Inappropriate Relationship Begin?
The misconduct centre on an inappropriate relationship between Winkless and Alicia Novas, who was 18 at the time and had only just started her career as a prison officer. As reported by BBC News, Novas began the relationship with Winkless in November 2024 while working at HMP Five Wells.
According to evidence presented at court, Novas went on to smuggle cannabis, tobacco and two mobile phones into HMP Five Wells and HMP Peterborough for Winkless. She also passed him confidential prison intelligence, including the identity of a prison informant, as detailed in reports by BBC and Sky News. These actions amounted to serious breaches of her duties as a public office holder and undermined prison security.
Detective Inspector Richard Cornell, from the East Midlands Regional Prisons Intelligence Unit, stated that “these sentences reflect the gravity of the multitude of offences committed.” He added that Novas had only just begun her career as a prison officer, having taken up her position on 1 July 2024, and that she used her position to form an inappropriate relationship with Winkless, breach public trust and illegally pass on information, as reported by BBC News.
What Offences Were Alicia Novas Convicted Of?
Alicia Novas, 20, of Holdenby Drive, Raunds, admitted six offences including misconduct in a public office. She was sentenced to three years at Northampton Crown Court in January 2026, a sentence that remains unchanged despite the appeal against Winkless’s term, as reported by BBC News and Civil Service World.
Novas was informed that she would serve half of her sentence in custody before being released on license, according to coverage by BBC. Her conduct involved not only the sexual relationship with Winkless but also the smuggling of drugs and mobile phones and the provision of confidential information, all of which constituted serious violations of her role as a prison officer.
The three-year sentence handed to former prison officer Alicia Novas, 20, of Holdenby Drive, Raunds, remains unchanged, as stated in reporting by Leicestershire Live and other outlets covering the case.
What Evidence Led to the Charges?
The case came to light after Winkless filmed himself having sex with Novas and uploaded the footage online. As reported by The Telegraph, two videos of Alicia Novas, 20, having sexual intercourse in her prison uniform were shared on Snapchat by prisoner Declan Winkless and ended up being widely circulated, leading to investigations into both individuals.
These videos formed part of the evidence identifying the inappropriate nature of the relationship and the extent of the misconduct. The combination of the filmed sessions, the smuggling of prohibited items, and the passing of confidential intelligence provided prosecutors with a clear picture of the breaches of duty and public trust, as described in court reporting by BBC, Sky News and The Telegraph.
What Did the Authorities Say About the Case?
Detective Inspector Richard Cornell, from the East Midlands Regional Prisons Intelligence Unit, emphasised the seriousness of the offences. He stated that the sentences reflect the gravity of the multitude of offences committed, and noted that Novas had only just begun her career as a prison officer, having taken up her position on 1 July 2024, as reported by BBC News.
Cornell further stated that 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. His comments underline the impact such conduct can have on prison security and the integrity of the prison service, according to media coverage.
Background of the Development
This case stems from a series of events at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and later at HMP Peterborough, where Alicia Novas worked as a prison officer. The relationship between Novas and Winkless began in November 2024, shortly after Novas had joined the prison service. Over the following months, she facilitated the entry of prohibited items into the prisons and shared confidential information with Winkless, including the identity of a prison informant.
The discovery of filmed sex sessions involving Novas and Winkless, which were uploaded to social media, triggered investigations by police and prison authorities. The case was prosecuted at Northampton Crown Court, where both Novas and Winkless pleaded guilty to multiple offences. The Court of Appeal later reviewed Winkless’s sentence following a submission by the Solicitor General, resulting in the increase from three years and four months to five years.
The development has been widely reported by BBC News, Sky News, The Telegraph, Leicestershire Live and Civil Service World, all of which have published detailed accounts of the offences, the court proceedings and the statements made by investigative officers.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Prison Officers and the Public
This development is likely to have a direct impact on how prison officers are trained, supervised and monitored in relation to inmate contact. Authorities may introduce stricter guidance on personal relationships between staff and prisoners, as well as enhanced checks on the use of mobile devices and social media by prison employees. The case could also lead to more rigorous vetting and ongoing oversight of new officers, particularly those working in high-security facilities.
For the public, the case reinforces concerns about prison security and the potential for breaches of trust within the prison service. It may increase pressure on the government and prison authorities to demonstrate that measures are in place to prevent similar incidents, including improved intelligence-sharing between prisons and regional units. The heightened sentence for Winkless may also be seen as a signal that the justice system will treat serious misconduct involving prison staff and inmates with greater severity, potentially influencing public expectations about accountability and deterrence in the prison system.
