Prison governor guilty of jail fling with inmate

A prison governor who began a relationship with a drug-dealing gang boss locked up in the jail she ran has been found guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office.

Kerri Pegg, 42, was seen as a “rising star” of the Prison Service, climbing the career ladder from graduate to governor of HMP Kirkham in Lancashire in six years.

But her trial heard she “didn’t play by the rules” and began a relationship with major Liverpool crime figure Anthony Saunderson, helping him secure day release.

A jury at Preston Crown Court returned their verdict at the end of a two-week trial.

The trial heard how, when police raided Pegg’s home in Orrell, Wigan, they found a toothbrush with Saunderson’s DNA on it.

It also emerged Pegg, who was also found guilty of one count of possession of criminal property, had been given a gift of a £12,000 Mercedes C-class car by Saunderson, which was paid for from the proceeds of his criminal activity.

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