Prison governor denies fling with supplier after DNA discovered on Hugo Boss flip flops

Kerri Pegg, 42, was allegedly gifted a £12,000 Mercedes by Anthony Saunderson, who went by Breaking Bad’s ‘Jesse Pinkman’ on EncroChat – an encrypted messaging network

The DNA of a notorious gang kingpin, known in the criminal underworld as “Jesse Pinkman” from the hit US series Breaking Bad, was found on Hugo Boss flip flops at the house of an prison governor, according to court reports.

Kerri Pegg, 42, described by court spectators as “petite, blonde and bubbly”, is accused of being a bit too cosy with dealer Anthony Saunderson, who allegedly lavished a £12,000 Mercedes on her for her troubles. In just six years, Pegg rocketed from a newbie graduate to the boss of a prison, Preston Crown Court was told. But while running the show at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire, she allegedly got too close with inmate Saunderson, about to finish time for his part in a multi-million quid cocaine operation, even flicking the switch on his temp release with no legit authority, the court heard.

Saunderson, released from prison in May 2019, was buzzing on an EncroChat encrypted phone in early 2020, a tool for the criminal big leagues to talk and scheme under the radar, the court heard. When the police cracked the system, they found Saunderson masquerading as both “Jesse Pinkman” and another alias nodding to Sopranos star James Gandolfini.

The prisoner’s plan was to produce amphetamines and flog class A substances – stuff he’s since been banged up for, now serving a meaty 35-year stretch. Court reports also suggests the phone conversations between him and Pegg laid bare the “ongoing nature” of their relationship.

The court was told about messages including one offering a “car her for ya bird 12 quid or work” and an image of a black Mercedes coupe. The prosecution detailed that “12 quid” referred to £12,000 and “work” was code for narcotics, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Retired detective constable Kevin Byrne from the National Crime Agency explained that Saunderson agreed to fork out 36kg of amphetamines in exchange for the wheels, but during the swap in Manchester, he fell short, delivering only 34.

Byrne revealed: “Mr Saunderson had to go and pay the difference in cash. North Wales Police told us that was what took place.”

Moreover, there was no financial paper trail for the Merc in Pegg’s records, according to the financial snoop work unveiled by Mr Byrne.

The flashy Mercedes was then added onto the DVLA records under Pegg at her Orrell, Wigan home on April 11, 2020. Texts to Saunderson from a friend included: “where u ya seedy man u and Peggy out floating orrel in the new whip?” Police arrested Pegg at her residence on February 11, 2021, in a joint sting with North Wales and Merseyside Police targeting Saunderson and his drug-peddling associates.

Yet again, Pegg’s cash history came up clean with nothing relating to the motor, underscored Mr Byrne. A search of her home by officials turned up size 10 Hugo Boss flip flops and a toothbrush – both items apparently marked with Saunderson’s DNA, the jury was briefed.

Saunderson’s house in Formby, where he lived with his wife Julie and the kids, also got turned over by the police. In court, it came out that Saunderson and Pegg were using those “burner” phones for their conversations, with Mr Byrne adding that Saunderson’s mobile sent 80 calls and texts to Pegg in just a month – but she never rang back.

The only other communications on Saunderson’s mobile were to prostitutes, the courtroom heard. Simon Billington, who was keeping tabs on prisoners at HMP Kirkham at the time, said Pegg was glued to Saunderson’s case when she was learning the ropes from him.

Now there’s a new boss working at Kirkham.

Billington said: “Kerri became very involved in Mr Saunderson’s ROTL (release on temporary licence) plan. The relationship between Mr Saunderson and Miss Pegg just created problems for me. It was unnecessary. It was not following policy.”

Pegg’s appeared in court and denied a couple of charges – one for getting close to Saunderson and another for keeping quiet about her debt. She’s also pleading not guilty to having dodgy money in the form of a Merc from Saunderson.

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