A prison officer, Heather Pinchbeck, has been accused of engaging in unauthorized phone conversations with a violent inmate who severely injured a man by cutting off his leg during a daytime assault. Pinchbeck, 28, allegedly communicated secretly with Joseph Hardy, 31, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2017 for causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Hardy had viciously attacked an unarmed individual with a machete, resulting in the victim losing a leg and sustaining a fractured skull.
The charges against Pinchbeck include the unlawful transmission of phone calls or images during her employment at HMP Dovegate in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. The allegation suggests that she violated the public’s trust by communicating with a prisoner using unauthorized means. These incidents reportedly occurred between February and March two years ago while Pinchbeck was working at the Category B male prison.
Pinchbeck, who resides near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, left her position at the Prison Service during the investigation and now serves as a business management executive. She recently appeared in Birmingham Crown Court but has not entered a plea. Additionally, Hardy is facing charges related to communicating with a prison officer illicitly and possessing a phone while in prison.
Despite the legal issues, Pinchbeck’s current employer, MIH Group, commends her work ethic and skills. The company highlights her background in managing offenders from her time at the Prison Service and praises her administrative capabilities, emphasizing her dedication to business development and success.
Before his imprisonment, Hardy was involved in a confrontation with the victim, leading to the brutal attack where he used a machete to inflict severe injuries. The victim suffered a nearly severed leg, a fractured skull, and required amputation above the knee due to the assault’s severity. Judge David Stockdale QC condemned Hardy for the cowardly and sustained attack on an unarmed individual, describing it as brutal and merciless.