Prison officer ‘had relationship with drug supplier inmate who gave her £12k Mercedes’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

A jail governor started a relationship with a drug supplier who gave her a £12,000 Mercedes automotive paid for in medication after she launched him on licence from jail, a court docket heard.

Kerri Pegg, 42, was seen as a “rising star” within the Prison Service, shortly climbing the profession ladder from graduate entrant to jail governor in six years, Preston Crown Court heard.

But Pegg “didn’t play by the rules” and whereas governor at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire started a relationship with an inmate Anthony Saunderson, who gave her the coupe automotive purchased with medication, it’s alleged.

When police raided her residence in Orrell, Wigan, they discovered a toothbrush together with his DNA on it, jurors heard.

Barbara-Louise Webster, opening the case for the prosecution, informed the jury of seven ladies and 5 males: “Despite her success she didn’t play by the rules that everybody else had to follow.

“Her downfall was two-fold, the first, despite having a good income, she lived beyond her means.

“She spent all her income and more, incurring debts and she had county court judgements made against her.

“As a consequence, she became vulnerable and open to exploitation.

“The second was that she became emotionally and personally involved with a serving prisoner, Anthony Saunderson and later accepted an expensive car, a Mercedes C class, which was paid for by him out of his proceeds of criminal activity ie trading in drugs.”

Pegg denies two counts of misconduct in a public workplace, one by having a relationship with Saunderson and the second by failing to reveal county court docket judgements about her money owed.

She additionally denies one rely of possessing legal property, the Mercedes automotive, from Saunderson.

Pegg joined the jail service in 2012 as a graduate entrant, working at prisons together with, Risley, Liverpool and Styal and by April 2018, was a governor at HMP Kirkham, the place Saunderson was reaching the tip of a prolonged sentence for medication offences.

But from the beginning of her time on the jail there have been considerations about Pegg being inappropriately near prisoners, jurors heard.

It was famous she spent quite a lot of time in her workplace with Saunderson and in October 2018, he put in a request to be launched on momentary licence.

Though such requests are routine there are clear and really particular guidelines for the way they need to be handled – guidelines which Pegg broke, Ms Webster stated.

She didn’t have authority to approve the discharge, however intervened and accepted the appliance with out notifying the official who ought to have handled it, it’s alleged.

Days later she was moved to a different jail, later turning into responsibility governor at HMP Lancaster Farms.

Saunderson was launched from jail in May 2019 and in early 2020, was utilizing an Encrochat encrypted cell phone, utilized by severe, organised criminals to ship messages and secretly talk.

When the system was cracked by regulation enforcement companies it confirmed Saunderson was concerned in huge drug trafficking. He has since been convicted for these offences.

But different messages additionally confirmed the “ongoing nature” of his relationship with Pegg, the court docket heard.

On April 6 2020, Saunderson was despatched a message on Encrochat saying “car her for ya bird 12 quid or work” and a photograph of the black Mercedes coupe.

The “12 quid” meant £12,000 and “work” meant medication.

Saunderson requested “what work they want” and he was informed “top or weed” – that’s, cocaine or hashish.

Two days later Saunderson organized for “17 packs” to be dropped off in Manchester to pay for the automotive, it’s alleged.

The Mercedes was then registered to Pegg at her residence on April 11 2020 and a message to Saunderson from a pal learn: “where u ya seedy man u and Peggy out floating orrel in the new whip?”

Pegg was arrested at her residence on November 19 2020, with police discovering costly gadgets of designer garments.

They additionally discovered a toothbrush and a pair of flip flops at her flat.

Both gadgets had been discovered to have combined DNA samples on them, matching the DNA of Pegg and Saunderson.

And paperwork seized confirmed Pegg was the topic of quite a lot of county court docket judgements for unpaid money owed.

The trial continues.