A female prison of the prison called a 'rising star' a relationship with a drug dealer who gave her £ 12,000 Mercedes after released him on license, a court heard.
Kerri Pegg, 42, was seen as a promising future leader in the prison service, who quickly climb the career ladder of graduated participant in prison prison in six years, Heard of Preston Crown Court.
But Pegg 'did not play according to the rules' and while Governor at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire started a relationship with a prisoner Anthony Saunderson, who gave her the Coupé car who was bought with drugs, is claimed.
When the police invaded her house in Orrell, Wigan, they found a toothbrush with his DNA on it, jury members heard.
Barbara-Louise Webster, who opened the case for the persecution, told the jury of seven women and five men: 'Despite her success, she did not play according to the rules that everyone had to follow.
“Her downfall was two -time, the first, even though she had a good income, she lived outside her resources.
'She spent all her income and more, and yielded debts and she had the judgments of the provincial court against her.
'Consequently, she became vulnerable and open to exploitation.
Kerri Pegg (photo), 42, was praised as a 'rising star' in the prison service. However, she is accused of having a relationship with a prisoner of drug dealer who gave her £ 12,000 Mercedes after she had released him on license
Pegg 'did not play according to the rules' and while governor at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire started a relationship with a prisoner Anthony Saunderson (photo)
'The second was that she was emotionally and personally involved with a serving prisoner, Anthony Saunderson and later accepted an expensive car, a Mercedes C -class, who he paid for from his proceeds of criminal activities, ie. Trade in drugs. '
PEGG denies two counts of misconduct in a public office, one by having a relationship with Saunderson and the second by not making the judgments of the provincial court on its debts known.
She also denies one count of possessing criminal property, the Mercedes car, from Saunderson.
In 2012, PEGG joined the prison service as a graduate participant, who worked for prisons, including Risley, Liverpool and Styal and in April 2018, was Governor at HMP Kirkham, where Saundeson reached the end of a long punishment for drug offenses.
But from the beginning of her time in prison there were to ensure that Pegg was inappropriate close to prisoners, jury members heard.
It was noted that she spent a lot of time in her office with Saunderson and in October 2018 he submitted a request to be released on a temporary license.
Although such requests are routine, there are clear and very specific rules for how to be tackled – rules that Pegg broke, said Webster.
She had no authority to approve the release, but intervened and approved the application without informing the official who should have been treated with it, is said.
PEGG denies two counts of misconduct in a public office, having a relationship with Saunderson and the second by not making the judgments of the provincial court on its debts known
Pegg was governor at HMP Kirkham (photo) at the time of the alleged violations
Days later she was moved to another prison and later became duty governor at HMP Lancaster Farms.
Saunderson was released from prison in May 2019 and used an Encrochat -Coded Mobile Phone in early 2020, used by serious, organized criminals to send messages and secretly communicate.
When the system was cracked by law enforcement agencies, it showed that Saunderson was involved in massive drug trafficking. Since then he has been convicted of those violations.
But other messages also showed the 'constant nature' of his relationship with PEGG, the court heard.
On April 6, 2020, Saunderson received a message on Encrochat and said 'Auto her for your bird 12 quid of work' and a photo of the Black Mercedes Coupe.
The '12 Quid 'meant £ 12,000 and' work 'meant drugs.
Saunderson asked 'what work they want' and he was told 'top of weed' – that is, cocaine or cannabis.
Pegg (depicted outside the court) joined the prison service in 2012 as a graduated participant, where he worked in prisons, including Risley, Liverpool and Styal
Two days later, Saunderson arranged that '17 Packs' is being dropped off in Manchester to pay the car is claimed.
The Mercedes was then registered with Pegg at her home on April 11, 2020 and a message to Saunderson from a friend read: “Where your louching man you and Peggy from floating Orrel in the new whip?”
Pegg was arrested in her house on November 19, 2020, with police who found expensive items from designer clothing.
They also found a toothbrush and a few slippers to her flat.
Both items were found to have mixed DNA samples on it, with the DNA of PEGG and Saunderson corresponding.
And seized paperwork showed that PEGG was the subject of a number of judgments of the district court for unpaid debts.
The process continues.
