Our thanks to Jeff for this. Extracts take up the remainder of this blog piece:

“Alicia Novas, 19, [J4MB emphasis. Need I point out the insanity of recruiting a teenage girl as a prison officer?!!!] and Declan Winkless, 30, appeared separately at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with committing misconduct in public office at HMP Five Wells between August and December last year… [BBC: Sloppy journalism. The inmate wouldn’t have been charged with that offence.]

Ms Novas, acting as a prison custody officer, is accused of “wilfully” misconducting “herself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust”.

The charges, detailed in court documents, state that Mr Winkless is alleged to have encouraged and assisted both offences. [J4MB emphasis. I am reminded of the episode of Porridge in which inmate Lennie Godber complains to a warden, Mr Mackay, that someone has stole something from his cell. Mr Mackay replies with some relish something along the lines of, “You need to be more careful, Mr Godber. There are some dishonest types around here!”]

The court heard that Ms Novas provided her telephone number to Mr Winkless, failed to report his possession of a telephone and cannabis, and entered “into a sexual relationship” with him.

A second joint charge of misconduct is said to have been committed by the pair on 23 November, when Ms Novas provided information about whether Mr Winkless was suspected of wrongdoing by prison authorities.

Both defendants face further charges of making an illegal electronic transmission from a prison, one of bringing, throwing or conveying cannabis into a prison [J4MB emphasis. Hmm, I wonder where she hid it on her person?] and one of conveying two mobile phones into a jail, [J4MB emphasis. The same question occurs to me.] all relating to HMP Five Wells, near Wellingborough…

Ms Novas, wearing a white top and black trousers, appeared in court in person while Mr Winkless appeared before magistrates via a prison video-link. [J4MB emphasis. The female BBC ‘journalist’ fails to tell us what the inmate was wearing. Presumably the regulation black trousers and a shirt with arrows pointing upwards.]

The female defendant, of Raunds, Northamptonshire, was granted bail with conditions not to contact Mr Winkless, not to contact any serving HMP prisoner by any means and not to attend any prison except by prior arrangement.”

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