Rebecca Pinckard

Rebecca Pinckard, a 46-year-old former prison guard at HMP Highpoint in Stradishall, Suffolk, was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison at Cambridge Crown Court for misconduct in a public office stemming from her illicit sexual relationship with inmate Erion Nakdi.

The affair, which lasted several months, came to light on 5 July 2024 when Pinckard and Nakdi were caught on her body-worn camera engaging in an intimate encounter in a store cupboard at the prison. Judge Anthony Cartin described the incident as a 'clumsy mistake' during the hearing. Pinckard had previously admitted to performing oral sex on Nakdi while on duty as a prison officer.

Further evidence revealed that sexual videos of Nakdi in his prison cell were recovered from Pinckard's mobile phone. The court accepted that these videos were filmed within the prison and sent to her via social media messaging. Pinckard failed to disclose receipt of these videos to prison authorities, and the phone used to film them was never located. On 10 April 2024, Pinckard sent Nakdi a 'loving' Moonpig card, which his defence barrister Rory Kenne highlighted in court.

Pinckard's barrister, Juliet Donovan, described the relationship as a 'moment of madness' rather than a full affair, noting that Pinckard had sent the card to cheer Nakdi up amid his relationship troubles. Donovan also explained that Pinckard had received a warning in October 2023 for being 'overfamiliar' with prisoners, including giving them cakes and sweets in an attempt to improve their conditions. Despite this, Pinckard appeared tearful as she was led to the cells after admitting wilfully disgracing herself in her position of public office.

The case was reported by the East Anglian Daily Times, with details emerging from court proceedings at Cambridge Crown Court. Erion Nakdi, who was serving a 16-year sentence for drug offences, received an additional 10 months for unauthorised possession of a mobile phone in prison.