Both defendants, Alicia Novas and Declan Winkless, did not enter pleas and are scheduled to appear at Northampton Crown Court on December 1, with Novas granted bail under strict conditions, including no contact with Winkless or other prisoners.

Novas was granted bail with conditions such as no contact with Winkless or other prisoners and restrictions on prison visits, while Winkless appeared via video link.

The case will be further examined at Northampton Crown Court on December 1.

Winkless is accused of encouraging and assisting Novas’s misconduct, with both charged with multiple offenses including illegal electronic transmissions, bringing cannabis and mobile phones into prisons, and illegally conveying phones and images during 2024 and 2025.

Alicia Novas, a 19-year-old prison officer at Five Wells prison in Northampton, faces charges related to misconduct linked to her alleged relationship with inmate Declan Winkless.

Winkless, formerly of South Wigston and now at HMP Swaleside in Kent, also faces a charge of possessing a mobile phone with a SIM card at Five Wells without authorization on December 22, 2024.