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Two people charged with prison smuggling offences

Alex PopeNorthamptonshire
News imageGetty Images An aerial shot of HMP Five Wells showing the seven cross-shaped housing blocks with the town of Wellingborough in the background.Getty Images
HMP Five Wells, in Wellingborough, is one of the UK's largest prisons and is run by private firm G4S

Two people have been charged with a number of offences of smuggling forbidden items into two prisons.

The charges relate to investigations at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire and HMP Peterborough between August 1, 2024, and March 21, 2025.

Alicia Novas, 19, from Holdenby Drive, Raunds, Northamptonshire, and Declan Winkless, 30, formerly of Kirkdale Road, South Wigston, Leicestershire, are due to appear at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Monday.

They are also charged with misconduct in a public office.

Northamptonshire Police said Ms Novas and Mr Winkless were charged with:

  • two counts of misconduct in a public office
  • two counts of transmitting/causing the transmission of an image/sound from a prison without authority.
  • one count of bringing/throwing/conveying a List 'A' prohibited article into/out of a prison
  • one count of bringing/throwing/ conveying a List 'B' prohibited article into/out of a prison.

List A article can be a controlled drug, an explosive, firearm or ammunition, or a weapon.

A List B item can be a camera, or any device where a photo or sound recording can be made.

Mr Winkless is also charged with one count of possessing inside a prison, without authority, an item specified in section 40D(3B) (of the Prison Act 1952).

This is defined as a device that can transmit or receive images, sound of information by electronic communications (including a mobile telephone).

News imageGoogle The entrance to a modern prison. There are rising barriers across a road leading to the entrance block, which looks like a two-storey office block. Beyond a high, solid wall is a higher prison building.Google
HMP Peterborough is another of the UK's more modern prisons, operated by Sodexo Justice on behalf of the government

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