Kerri Pegg, former governor of HMP Kirkham, had an affair with an inmate (Image: PA)
A female prison governor is facing jail after having an affair with a drug-dealing gang boss dubbed one of country's most wanted criminals. Kerri Pegg, 42, swapped her Honda Jazz for a ￡12,000 Mercedes C class car, paid for by 34 kilos of amphetamines, by Anthony Saunderson, a major organised crime boss, who is now serving 35 years behind bars. Divorcee Pegg, described in court as, "petite, blonde and bubbly", signed off on temporary release for Saunderson while she was a governor at HMP Kirkham.
Saunderson was known to criminal associates as "Jesse Pinkman", the drug dealer in Breaking Bad, or "James Gandolfini", the actor who played Tony Soprano in the mafia TV series.
Social Security Recipients Under $2,384/Mo Now Entitled To 12 "Kickbacks" In April (Tap for List)Super Saving Online| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump's tariff chaos is a 'new era' and 'world has changed'
20 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves one simple misstep away from disaster
19 Comments
Rachel Reeves rejects calls for a 'Buy British' campaign in 'insult' to UK businesses
23 Comments
Minister refuses to rule out Brexit war with EU as Trump tariffs threaten trade treaty
35 Comments
Keir Starmer's freeloading exposed as Labour's love of freebies laid bare... again!
112 Comments
Kier Starmer says NHS 8am GP appointment scramble is 'frustrating' as 1,500 GPs hired
26 Comments
Rachel Reeves humiliated as economy in 'dire' state - 'Worst slump since financial crash'
91 Comments
Parliament halted for emergency Rachel Reeves announcement on Donald Trump's tariffs
85 Comments
Brexit 'saved UK from even worse Trump tariffs' as stock market recovers
56 Comments
Lee Anderson slams migrant crossings as 'disgrace' warning Labour 'did nothing'
37 Comments
Wes Streeting hails major 'medical breakthrough' as 'miracle' baby girl born
15 Comments
Keir Starmer has golden opportunity but right now he's screwing up tariff tactics
13 Comments
Keir Starmer has UK game-changer at his fingertips - he just needs to change one thing
35 Comments
Trump tariffs LIVE: Keir Starmer promises reforms as Trump tariffs crash stock markets
117 Comments
Limited Prefab Homes For Less (Find Now)Prefab Homes | Search Ads| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Birmingham bin strike is a health hazard admits Health Secretary Wes Streeting
Comments
Call me crazy but I back Donald Trump on tariffs - Reeves should copy him for 1 key reason
375 Comments
Newly Released SUV Causing a Stir in Auto IndustrySUV| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Labour threatens job cuts ‘within months' as NHS England quango axed
15 Comments
Labour's political perversity plunges new depths in bizarre objection from UK MPs
61 Comments
Millions Love This Gift – Will You Get Yours in Time?Perfect gift for family| Sponsored Sponsored
Read More
Undo
Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer to face huge grilling from MPs in major showdown
42 Comments
Keir Starmer throws Rachel Reeves under the bus with huge admission
265 Comments
Best Solar Generator for HomesEcoflow| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump's tariff chaos is a 'new era' and 'world has changed'
20 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves one simple misstep away from disaster
19 Comments
I Tried the $0.87 Generic Viagra and Here's What Happened!fridayplans| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Rachel Reeves rejects calls for a 'Buy British' campaign in 'insult' to UK businesses
23 Comments
Minister refuses to rule out Brexit war with EU as Trump tariffs threaten trade treaty
35 Comments
Seniors Can Now Fly Business Class For the Price Of Economyonlineshoppingtools| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Keir Starmer's freeloading exposed as Labour's love of freebies laid bare... again!
112 Comments
Kier Starmer says NHS 8am GP appointment scramble is 'frustrating' as 1,500 GPs hired
26 Comments
Memory Loss? These 4 Dementia Signs Could Be the CausePrimal Health| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Rachel Reeves humiliated as economy in 'dire' state - 'Worst slump since financial crash'
91 Comments
Parliament halted for emergency Rachel Reeves announcement on Donald Trump's tariffs
85 Comments
“Liquid Xanax” Is Now Sold Online In All 50 Stateshealth-headline| Sponsored Sponsored
Buy Now
Undo
Brexit 'saved UK from even worse Trump tariffs' as stock market recovers
56 Comments
Lee Anderson slams migrant crossings as 'disgrace' warning Labour 'did nothing'
37 Comments
Take Charge of Fungus-Affected NailsOkita Nail Fungus Light| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Wes Streeting hails major 'medical breakthrough' as 'miracle' baby girl born
15 Comments
Keir Starmer has golden opportunity but right now he's screwing up tariff tactics
13 Comments
Seniors Born 1941-1979 Receive 55 Benefits This Month if They AskWalletJump| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Keir Starmer has UK game-changer at his fingertips - he just needs to change one thing
35 Comments
Trump tariffs LIVE: Keir Starmer promises reforms as Trump tariffs crash stock markets
117 Comments
Birmingham bin strike is a health hazard admits Health Secretary Wes Streeting
Comments
Call me crazy but I back Donald Trump on tariffs - Reeves should copy him for 1 key reason
375 Comments
Labour threatens job cuts ‘within months' as NHS England quango axed
15 Comments
Labour's political perversity plunges new depths in bizarre objection from UK MPs
61 Comments
Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer to face huge grilling from MPs in major showdown
42 Comments
Keir Starmer throws Rachel Reeves under the bus with huge admission
265 Comments
Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump's tariff chaos is a 'new era' and 'world has changed'
20 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves one simple misstep away from disaster
19 Comments
Rachel Reeves rejects calls for a 'Buy British' campaign in 'insult' to UK businesses
23 Comments
Minister refuses to rule out Brexit war with EU as Trump tariffs threaten trade treaty
35 Comments
Keir Starmer's freeloading exposed as Labour's love of freebies laid bare... again!
112 Comments
Kier Starmer says NHS 8am GP appointment scramble is 'frustrating' as 1,500 GPs hired
26 Comments
Rachel Reeves humiliated as economy in 'dire' state - 'Worst slump since financial crash'
91 Comments
Kerri Pegg is facing prison (Image: PA)
Pegg's new car (Image: PA)
Pegg, a keen gym-goer inside jail, was seen as a "rising star" in the Prison Service, quickly climbing the career ladder from graduate entrant to prison governor in six years, along the way also having breast enhancement surgery.
During her trial at Preston Crown Court, it emerged that Saunderson had developed and delivered a programme titled BADD (Beating Alcohol and Drug Dependency) for inmates at several jails, while at the time being a major drug dealer, running an amphetamines factory.
Powered By
10 Sec
Police officer borrows bike to pursue suspected drug dealer
Next
Stay
Pegg claimed her contact with Saunderson was due to his involvement in the BADD programme.
Sponsored
VideoBuzzz| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
The World's Most Useless Megaprojects: Ambition, Waste, and Unfulfilled Promises
Undo
But even members of his gang grumbled that their boss was spending too much time with her and away from his wife and "work".
Pegg was convicted of two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of possession of criminal property.
The jury was out for two hours and 43 minutes after a three-week trial.
Pegg gave no reaction as the guilty verdicts were delivered.
Judge Graham Knowles told Pegg a prison term was "inevitable", but bailed the defendant to the court building while a sentencing date was arranged either later on Tuesday or at a later date.
The court heard that Pegg, originally from Bramhall, Stockport, had worked in the Probation Service for eight years.
Married at 26 and divorced four years later after her husband's building and renovations firm went bust, she switched to the Prison Service for a new challenge.
Pegg joined in 2012 as a graduate entrant, working at prisons including Risley, Liverpool and Styal, and by April 2018 she was a governor at HMP Kirkham, where Saunderson was reaching the end of 10-year sentence for drugs offences.
He had been one of Merseyside's most wanted fugitives for his part in importing ￡19 million of cocaine in shipments of corned beef from Argentina.
From the start of her time at the jail there were concerns about Pegg being inappropriately close to Saunderson, with the two often being in her office with the door closed.
She told jurors there were "cultural issues" at the jail and clashed with bosses over her "progressive" and "hands-on" open-door policy with prisoners.
In October 2018, Saunderson put in a release on temporary licence (ROTL) request which Pegg signed off, though she did not have the authority to do so.
Saunderson was released from Kirkham in May 2019 and within two months, while still on licence, was involved in another massive drug conspiracy.
Pegg's trial heard that he continued contact with prisons in the BADD programme and was also still close to Pegg, who was at the time the regional official co-ordinating drug strategy in six prisons in the North West.
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Pegg's trial heard that he continued contact with prisons in the BADD programme and was also still close to Pegg, who was at the time the regional official co-ordinating drug strategy in six prisons in the North West.
The Prison Service has been contacted for comment.
Saunderson and his gang were producing and supplying drugs on an industrial scale from a lab at a premises on the England/Wales border and a storage unit in Aintree, Merseyside.
He was jailed for 35 years at Liverpool Crown Court in August 2022 after law enforcement agencies cracked the Encrochat system, the phone network used by serious organised criminals.
It revealed Saunderson's drug dealing and his relationship with Pegg.
Police raided her apartment in Orrell, Wigan, in November 2020. The Mercedes paid for by Saunderson was parked outside.
They discovered designer clothes, handbags and jewellery, and found Pegg living way beyond her means, buying Jimmy Choo shoes and Chanel necklaces.
Detectives discovered that despite her ￡3,000 a month income, Pegg was deep in debt and had not declared three County Court judgments which amounted to misconduct, as debts make officials vulnerable to corruption.
Her four credit cards were "maxed out" and she had 6p in her savings account.
Detectives also found a toothbrush and a pair of Hugo Boss flip flops both carrying Saunderson's DNA.
Andrew Alty, defending, in his closing speech to the jury, claimed Pegg had been, "green and stupid" and a naive and gullible person who was manipulated by Saunderson.
Pegg tearfully told jurors she had been "incredibly stupid" but did not think she had done anything wrong.
Barbara-Louise Webster, prosecuting, said Pegg had a promising future, but added: "Anthony Saunderson was her downfall."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump's tariff chaos is a 'new era' and 'world has changed'
20 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves one simple misstep away from disaster
19 Comments
Rachel Reeves rejects calls for a 'Buy British' campaign in 'insult' to UK businesses
23 Comments
Minister refuses to rule out Brexit war with EU as Trump tariffs threaten trade treaty
35 Comments
Keir Starmer's freeloading exposed as Labour's love of freebies laid bare... again!
112 Comments
Kier Starmer says NHS 8am GP appointment scramble is 'frustrating' as 1,500 GPs hired
26 Comments
Rachel Reeves humiliated as economy in 'dire' state - 'Worst slump since financial crash'
91 Comments
Parliament halted for emergency Rachel Reeves announcement on Donald Trump's tariffs
85 Comments
Brexit 'saved UK from even worse Trump tariffs' as stock market recovers
56 Comments
Lee Anderson slams migrant crossings as 'disgrace' warning Labour 'did nothing'
37 Comments
Wes Streeting hails major 'medical breakthrough' as 'miracle' baby girl born
15 Comments
Keir Starmer has golden opportunity but right now he's screwing up tariff tactics
13 Comments
Keir Starmer has UK game-changer at his fingertips - he just needs to change one thing
35 Comments
Trump tariffs LIVE: Keir Starmer promises reforms as Trump tariffs crash stock markets
117 Comments
Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens a Week LaterHealth Wellness Journal| Sponsored Sponsored
Watch More
Undo
Birmingham bin strike is a health hazard admits Health Secretary Wes Streeting
Comments
Call me crazy but I back Donald Trump on tariffs - Reeves should copy him for 1 key reason
375 Comments
Sore Knees After 60 Comes Down To 1 Thing (Stop Doing This)Arthrozene| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Labour threatens job cuts ‘within months' as NHS England quango axed
15 Comments
Labour's political perversity plunges new depths in bizarre objection from UK MPs
61 Comments
Men Lightweight Comfy Leather Driving Shoes Non-Slip Casual Shoes Breathable LoafersReliefFoot？| Sponsored Sponsored
Shop Now
Undo
Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer to face huge grilling from MPs in major showdown
42 Comments
Keir Starmer throws Rachel Reeves under the bus with huge admission
266 Comments
The perfect gift: bear family with names!Perfect gift for family| Sponsored Sponsored
Read More
Undo
Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump's tariff chaos is a 'new era' and 'world has changed'
20 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves one simple misstep away from disaster
19 Comments
Why There's No Better Bed Out There Than The Bed, By ThumaThuma| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Rachel Reeves rejects calls for a 'Buy British' campaign in 'insult' to UK businesses
23 Comments
Minister refuses to rule out Brexit war with EU as Trump tariffs threaten trade treaty
35 Comments
Top 5 Reasons Why Thuma's Classic Bed Is the Ultimate Choice for Your Bedroom SanctuaryThuma| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Keir Starmer's freeloading exposed as Labour's love of freebies laid bare... again!
112 Comments
Kier Starmer says NHS 8am GP appointment scramble is 'frustrating' as 1,500 GPs hired
26 Comments
How Long Does $1 Million Last After 60?Fisher Investments| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Rachel Reeves humiliated as economy in 'dire' state - 'Worst slump since financial crash'
91 Comments
Parliament halted for emergency Rachel Reeves announcement on Donald Trump's tariffs
85 Comments
These Weird Pouches Keep Rodents Out? Mice and Rats Can't Stand Them!Vamoose| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Brexit 'saved UK from even worse Trump tariffs' as stock market recovers
56 Comments
Lee Anderson slams migrant crossings as 'disgrace' warning Labour 'did nothing'
37 Comments
One Simple Spray = Sharper, Clearer Sound in SecondsHear Clearly Again| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Wes Streeting hails major 'medical breakthrough' as 'miracle' baby girl born
15 Comments
Keir Starmer has golden opportunity but right now he's screwing up tariff tactics
13 Comments
7 Income Strategies for Your $1 Million PortfolioFisher Investments| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Keir Starmer has UK game-changer at his fingertips - he just needs to change one thing
35 Comments
Trump tariffs LIVE: Keir Starmer promises reforms as Trump tariffs crash stock markets
117 Comments
Birmingham bin strike is a health hazard admits Health Secretary Wes Streeting
Comments
Call me crazy but I back Donald Trump on tariffs - Reeves should copy him for 1 key reason
375 Comments
Labour threatens job cuts ‘within months' as NHS England quango axed
15 Comments
Labour's political perversity plunges new depths in bizarre objection from UK MPs
61 Comments
Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer to face huge grilling from MPs in major showdown
42 Comments
Keir Starmer throws Rachel Reeves under the bus with huge admission
266 Comments
Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump's tariff chaos is a 'new era' and 'world has changed'
20 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves one simple misstep away from disaster
19 Comments
Rachel Reeves rejects calls for a 'Buy British' campaign in 'insult' to UK businesses
23 Comments
Minister refuses to rule out Brexit war with EU as Trump tariffs threaten trade treaty
35 Comments
Keir Starmer's freeloading exposed as Labour's love of freebies laid bare... again!
112 Comments
Kier Starmer says NHS 8am GP appointment scramble is 'frustrating' as 1,500 GPs hired
26 Comments
Rachel Reeves humiliated as economy in 'dire' state - 'Worst slump since financial crash'
91 Comments
Discover Adult Only ResortsResorts | Search Ads
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
The All-New Hyundai Palisade is Sheer Perfection (Take a Peek Inside)Hottest SUVs Today
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Chelsea Clinton, 44, Drives Probably the Most Expensive Car in the World.Boite A Scoop
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Hearing Aids Are Outdated – Here’s What’s Replacing ThemHear Clearly Again
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Outside court, Tarryn McCaffrey, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "Kerri Pegg's conduct fell far short of what might be expected from any professional within the Prison Service, let alone one of such a senior grade as prison governor.
"She was clearly involved in an inappropriate relationship with Saunderson after he was released and the evidence points to this going back further, to a time when he was in jail.
"This relationship, and the fact that Pegg failed to disclose her debts to her employers, amount to a gross breach of trust and are therefore extremely damaging to public confidence."