Prison governor who had relationship with drug boss is jailed

A former prison governor who had a relationship with a drug boss who she released from prison early has herself now been jailed for nine years.

Kerri Pegg, 42, from Up Holland in Lancashire, was convicted of misconduct in public office and possession of criminal property in a trial at Preston Crown Court on April 9.

Pegg was a governor-grade prison officer at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire in 2018 when Anthony Saunderson was reaching the end of a lengthy sentence for large scale drug dealing.

Other officers noted a close relationship between Pegg and Saunderson, which eventually extended to her intervening to approve his temporary release on licence.

In mid-2019 Saunderson was released from prison and early the following year, was using an encrypted communication system called Encrochat to speak to his criminal associates.