Prison smuggler has jail sentence increased

An inmate who admitted encouraging a former prison officer to commit a number of offences has had his sentence for smuggling increased.

Declan Winkless, 31, who has 16 previous convictions, is currently in HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

In January he was jailed for three years and four months, but following a ruling by the Court of Appeal that his sentence was too lenient, it was quashed and replaced by an increased sentence of five years.

He admitted two counts of encouraging misconduct in public office, unauthorised communication within the prison, using cannabis in prison and unauthorised possession of communication devices within a prison.

Winkless is currently serving a separate sentence until April 2029.

His new five-year term will begin when that sentence has been completed.

Alicia Novas, 20, from Raunds, Northamptonshire, worked at the jail where she became involved with Winkless.

She admitted six offences including misconduct in public office and received a three-year jail sentence at Northampton Crown Court, also in January, which remains unchanged.

Northamptonshire Police said: "Following a submission to the Court of Appeal on behalf of the Solicitor General that the overall sentence was unduly lenient, Winkless's original sentence was quashed on Tuesday, June 30, and replaced with an increased sentence of five years' imprisonment."

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