A prison officer, identified as Heather Pinchbeck, is facing charges for allegedly engaging in unauthorized phone communications with a dangerous inmate convicted of brutally severing a man’s leg in a daylight assault. Pinchbeck, 28, was tasked with overseeing the prisoner but reportedly conducted multiple covert calls with him. The inmate in question, Joseph Hardy, 31, received a 14-year sentence in 2017 for maliciously injuring a man with a machete, resulting in the victim losing a limb and sustaining a fractured skull.
The accusations against Pinchbeck involve communicating illicitly with Hardy during her employment at HMP Dovegate in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, as per reports from Mail Online. Pinchbeck, residing near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was stationed at the Category B male prison during the alleged incidents, which occurred between February and March two years ago. Following the investigation, she left the Prison Service and transitioned to a role as a business management executive.
Pinchbeck recently appeared in Birmingham Crown Court but has not yet entered a plea regarding the charges. Additionally, Hardy is also facing allegations of improper communication with a prison officer and possessing a phone while incarcerated. Pinchbeck’s current employment at MIH Group as a business management executive has been commended by her employer for her qualifications and dedication in administrative practices and business development.
Prior to his imprisonment in December 2017, Hardy engaged in a dispute with the victim before launching a vicious attack, resulting in severe injuries. Medical responders discovered the victim with a nearly severed leg and head lacerations, requiring immediate amputation and treatment for a fractured skull. During sentencing, Judge David Stockdale QC condemned Hardy’s actions as a cowardly and brutal assault on an unarmed individual, emphasizing the severity and cruelty of the attack.
