After confessing to engaging in a romantic relationship with a prisoner and allegedly performing a sexual act on him, a correctional officer is now facing incarceration. Rebecca Pinckard, aged 46, was involved in a covert affair with an inmate at HMP Highpoint in Stradishall, Suffolk, from April to July 2024. She was apprehended and charged with willfully and unjustifiably misconducting herself, breaching the public’s trust.
The accusation specified that she violated the public’s trust by establishing a relationship with a prisoner under her supervision, sending him a card, and engaging in a sexual act while on duty as a prison officer. Pinckard pleaded guilty to the offense at Cambridge Crown Court on November 19 and is awaiting sentencing in January.
During a previous court appearance, Pinckard’s attorney, Andrew Cookson, mentioned discrepancies in the case against her without elaborating on the details. Her case was intertwined with that of a prisoner named Erion Nakdi, 42, who faced charges of possessing a cell phone at Highpoint prison between July 2 and July 6 the previous year.
Nakdi admitted guilt via a video link from Category D HMP Ford prison near Arundel, West Sussex, where he was detained. It was not clarified in court whether Nakdi was the prisoner involved in the alleged relationship with Pinckard.
The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) was notified of the incident on July 8 the previous year. At that time, ERSOU, comprising personnel from seven police forces in the East of England, characterized the purported relationship as “inappropriate”.
Det Insp Puneet Netar, from ERSOU’s regional organized crime unit, conveyed to the BBC, “Rebecca Pinckard abused her authority as a prison officer by choosing to engage in a relationship with an inmate. The public’s faith in the justice system hinges on integrity, and our team collaborates closely with the Prison Service to ensure that instances of misconduct or corruption are thoroughly investigated. We will persist in our efforts with partner agencies to target and hold accountable those who misuse their positions.”
Pinckard joins a list of officers who have engaged in improper liaisons with inmates. Recently, Alicia Novas, 19, admitted to having a sexual relationship with a violent criminal behind bars and smuggling cannabis for him. She had a four-month affair with Declan Winkless, 30, serving an 11-year sentence for aggravated burglary.
Last month, Isabelle Dale, 23, was convicted of engaging in a brief sexual encounter with an inmate in a prison prayer room and having a relationship with a second prisoner. She engaged in sexual activity with convicted robber Shahid Sharif at HMP Coldingley in Surrey while two other prisoners kept watch outside.
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