Latest news with #ROTL
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
'Hands-on' prison governor denies fling with inmate
A prison governor accused of being in a relationship with a gang boss inmate said she had always been a "hands-on" person, but denied any wrongdoing. Kerri Pegg, 42, was allegedly gifted a £12,000 Mercedes car by Anthony Saunderson, who used the name Jesse Pinkman, a meth dealer in the TV show Breaking Bad, during secret communications with other criminals. Ms Pegg had been a "rising star" in the Prison Service, climbing the career ladder from graduate entrant to prison governor in six years, Preston Crown Court was told. But while a governor at HMP Kirkham, she became too close to Saunderson, signing off his temporary release without proper authority, it is alleged. The defendant denies two counts of misconduct in a public office, one by having a relationship with Saunderson and the second by failing to disclose county court judgments (CCJ) about personal debts. She also denies one count of possessing criminal property, the Mercedes car, from Saunderson. Giving evidence earlier, Ms Pegg said she joined the Prison Service after eight years as a probation officer because she liked working with people and "wanted to make a difference". The jury heard that in 2018, when she was working at HMP Liverpool, she was confronted by its then governor Robert Durgan after the Prison Service had been made aware of three CCJs against her, which is against the rules for staff as it may make them vulnerable to financial inducements. Ms Pegg told the court she did not realise that not declaring a CCJ was breaking the rules. She said: "I was mortified, I was embarrassed, I started crying. But he was really supportive and kind." Ms Pegg said she was told no further action needed to be taken because the CCJs had at that point been declared. The jury heard she moved to HMP Kirkham in April 2018 as a governor, where she said there were "cultural issues". Saunderson was coming to the end of a 10-year sentence for drugs offences when Ms Pegg was appointed. She told the jury her "style" was always to have an "open-door policy" and lots of contact with prisoners. "I have always been a hands-on person, hands-on manager, I like contact with people," she said. "They really seemed to appreciate it, they really appreciated someone willing to listen to them. They felt they had been ignored by other staff." Ms Pegg admitted that she had signed off on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) form for Saunderson in October 2018, which should only have been signed off by another official, the acting duty governor. But she said she had done this before if paperwork was late and it was not unusual. Andrew Alty, defending, asked: "Did you sign that ROTL because of some form of special relationship with Anthony Saunderson?" "No," replied Ms Pegg. Earlier in the trial, the prosecution said that after Saunderson had served his sentence detectives found size 10 Hugo Boss flip flops and a toothbrush, both with his DNA on, at Ms Pegg's home in Orrell, Wigan. She is alleged to have been gifted the black Mercedes coupe after Saunderson paid for it by offering 34kgs (75lb) of amphetamines, jurors heard. The jury were told Saunderson was released from prison in May 2019, and in early 2020 was using an Encrochat encrypted mobile phone, used by serious criminals. When the system was cracked by law enforcement agencies it showed Saunderson was using the handle or pseudonym Jesse Pinkman, the name of a drug-dealing character in the critically acclaimed Breaking Bad crime drama series. He has since been convicted for large-scale drug-trafficking and is back in prison. Other messages on Saunderson's Encrochat phone also revealed the "ongoing nature" of his relationship with Ms Pegg, the prosecution has claimed. Ms Pegg denies any wrongdoing. The trial continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Prison governor's 'fling with Breaking Bad dealer' Prison governor 'had fling with drug dealer inmate'
BBC News
01-04-2025
- BBC News
'Hands-on' prison governor denies fling with HMP Kirkham inmate
A prison governor accused of being in a relationship with a gang boss inmate said she had always been a "hands-on" person, but denied any Pegg, 42, was allegedly gifted a £12,000 Mercedes car by Anthony Saunderson, who used the name Jesse Pinkman, a meth dealer in the TV show Breaking Bad, during secret communications with other Pegg had been a "rising star" in the Prison Service, climbing the career ladder from graduate entrant to prison governor in six years, Preston Crown Court was while a governor at HMP Kirkham, she became too close to Saunderson, signing off his temporary release without proper authority, it is alleged. The defendant denies two counts of misconduct in a public office, one by having a relationship with Saunderson and the second by failing to disclose county court judgments (CCJ) about personal also denies one count of possessing criminal property, the Mercedes car, from evidence earlier, Ms Pegg said she joined the Prison Service after eight years as a probation officer because she liked working with people and "wanted to make a difference". The jury heard that in 2018, when she was working at HMP Liverpool, she was confronted by its then governor Robert Durgan after the Prison Service had been made aware of three CCJs against her, which is against the rules for staff as it may make them vulnerable to financial Pegg told the court she did not realise that not declaring a CCJ was breaking the said: "I was mortified, I was embarrassed, I started crying. But he was really supportive and kind."Ms Pegg said she was told no further action needed to be taken because the CCJs had at that point been declared. The jury heard she moved to HMP Kirkham in April 2018 as a governor, where she said there were "cultural issues". 'Open-door policy' Saunderson was coming to the end of a 10-year sentence for drugs offences when Ms Pegg was appointed. She told the jury her "style" was always to have an "open-door policy" and lots of contact with prisoners."I have always been a hands-on person, hands-on manager, I like contact with people," she said."They really seemed to appreciate it, they really appreciated someone willing to listen to them. They felt they had been ignored by other staff."Ms Pegg admitted that she had signed off on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) form for Saunderson in October 2018, which should only have been signed off by another official, the acting duty she said she had done this before if paperwork was late and it was not Alty, defending, asked: "Did you sign that ROTL because of some form of special relationship with Anthony Saunderson?""No," replied Ms in the trial, the prosecution said that after Saunderson had served his sentence detectives found size 10 Hugo Boss flip flops and a toothbrush, both with his DNA on, at Ms Pegg's home in Orrell, is alleged to have been gifted the black Mercedes coupe after Saunderson paid for it by offering 34kgs (75lb) of amphetamines, jurors jury were told Saunderson was released from prison in May 2019, and in early 2020 was using an Encrochat encrypted mobile phone, used by serious criminals. When the system was cracked by law enforcement agencies it showed Saunderson was using the handle or pseudonym Jesse Pinkman, the name of a drug-dealing character in the critically acclaimed Breaking Bad crime drama series. He has since been convicted for large-scale drug-trafficking and is back in prison. Other messages on Saunderson's Encrochat phone also revealed the "ongoing nature" of his relationship with Ms Pegg, the prosecution has Pegg denies any trial continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Telegraph
01-04-2025
- Telegraph
I'm a hands-on boss, says prison governor ‘who had affair with drug dealer'
Giving evidence from the witness box in her own defence, Ms Pegg said she joined the Prison Service after working for the Probation Service for eight years, because she liked working with people and wanted to 'make a difference'. She told jurors she currently works for The Brick, a poverty and homeless charity in Wigan, who she had told about her court case and some people from the charity were attending court. While working at HMP Liverpool in March 2018, she told the jury she was called to a meeting with Robert Durgan, the main governor, after the Prison Service found out she had three CCJs against her, which is against the rules for staff as it may make them vulnerable to financial inducements. Ms Pegg said she did not realise that not declaring or having a CCJ was breaking the rules. She said: 'I was mortified, I was embarrassed, I started crying. But he was really supportive and kind.' Andrew Alty, defending, asked if Mr Durgan told her she should have reported her CCJs and this amounted to misconduct in a public office. Ms Pegg replied: 'No. He said they were now 'known'. Declared. And there was no further disciplinary action to take. He just gave me advice.' The defendant said staff at HMP Liverpool were also aware she had had a breast enhancement procedure, and was put on restricted duties for a time to recover. Ms Pegg said when she moved to HMP Kirkham in April 2018 as a governor, where Saunderson was coming to the end of a 10-year sentence for drugs offences, there were 'cultural issues'. 'Open-door policy' Ms Pegg said her 'style' was always to have and 'open-door policy' and lots of contact with prisoners in the jail. 'I have always been a hands-on person, hands-on manager, I like contact with people,' she said. 'They really seemed to appreciate it, they really appreciated someone willing to listen to them. They felt they had been ignored by other staff.' Ms Pegg admitted that she had signed off on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) form, for Saunderson in October 2018, which should only have been signed off by another official, the acting duty governor. But Ms Pegg said she had done this before if paperwork was late and it was not unusual. Mr Alty continued: 'Did you sign that ROTL because of some form of special relationship with Anthony Saunderson?' 'No,' replied Ms Pegg. Earlier the trial heard Saunderson was released from prison in May 2019, and in early 2020 was using an Encrochat encrypted mobile phone, used by serious, organised criminals to send messages and secretly communicate. When the system was cracked by law enforcement agencies it showed Saunderson went by the handle or pseudonym of Jesse Pinkman and was involved in massive drug trafficking. He has since been convicted for those offences. Other messages on the phone also revealed the 'ongoing nature' of his relationship with Ms Pegg, it is alleged. Ms Pegg was arrested at her home on February 11, 2021, and later charged.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
'No action taken' by staff over inmate Ricardo Cotteral's alleged involvement in prison dealing
There were significant 'shortcomings' in granting a prisoner release into the community on the weekend he would later be murdered on, an investigation has found. Concerns around the prisoner allegedly engaging in an internal drug market were also 'not considered', according to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Adrian Usher. "Between 29 and 31 March, staff submitted intelligence reports that Mr Cotteral had access to a mobile phone and was suspected of being involved in the prison's illicit drug market. However, there is no evidence that staff took any action, and the details were not recorded in Mr Cotteral's prison record," the report read. The investigation by the watchdog has focused on the decisions taken and administrative processes surrounding Ricardo Cotteral, who was an inmate at HMP Sudbury and released on temporary licence into the community. Mr Cotteral had been released many times into the community before. READ MORE: Police cordon off Sneinton house on busy street after incident READ MORE: Bestwood man's 'disgusting' struggle as sewage keeps filling the bath at his flat But he was was stabbed to death by four men in the Lace Market on April 24, 2022. Mr Cotteral, who was 33, was on weekend release when he was killed in what was described in court as a 'revenge attack' from a previous violent incident between both parties. Four men were found guilty of the murder and sentenced to life in prison, with minimum terms to serve ranging from 25 to 30 years. An investigation was launched by the watchdog into the processes followed into his release on licence in the days before he was killed, and the ombudsman report said Mr Cotteral had been sentenced to three years imprisonment for possession with intent to supply a Class A drug in 2020. He had been incarcerated in HMP Nottingham before being moved to HMP Ranby and then HMP Sudbury the following August, where he began being granted release back into the community for short periods to work. This was despite reports from staff that Mr Cotteral was suspected of being involved in the open prison's illicit drug market. An investigation has now found there should have been more 'robust' measures in place before granting Ricardo Cotteral release on temporary license (ROTL) and that his suspected illicit activity was not considered. The Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) scheme allows prisoners to be released into the community for short periods to work or to build family relationships. The majority of prisoners can apply for temporary release and it is usually granted for day-long periods following a risk assessment. Staff at the prison who were responsible for Mr Cotteral's care disagreed over whether he should be granted release, before it was eventually approved by the Head of the Offender Management Unit (OMU) for paid work. The prisoner would then regularly be released to stay at his grandmother's house, despite growing concerns over his potential involvement in the prison's drug trade. The investigation found staff should have met and discussed the potential risks of releasing Mr Cotteral into the community before granting him access. The report says: "There was no direct information that Mr Cotteral's life was at risk in the community and, indeed, he left the prison on ROTL almost every day in April to work and for at least one other overnight stay that month. However, we do not think that the ROTL approval processes at Sudbury are sufficiently robust." The ombudsman has consequently recommended that, going forward, urgent reviews must take place when there is evidence to suggest there is an increased risk in releasing prisoners into the community. It also recommends staff must act on and share all information that indicates any such release may not be appropriate. It added that healthcare professionals, who supported Mr Cotteral with his autism and mental health, should have been involved in risk assessments. An inquest, held on 17 July 2024, concluded that Mr Cotteral died of unlawful killing. The most recent inspection of HMP Sudbury in August 2023, found more than 40% of prisoners had committed offences related to drug supply, with around a third connected to organised crime gangs. "Despite having had a full-time police intelligence officer for several months, not enough had been done to reduce the supply of, and the demand for, illicit drugs," the report adds. Mr Cotteral was the fifth prisoner to die while at HM Sudbury since April 2019. Two of the previous deaths were from natural causes and two were drug-related. There were no similarities between the findings of this investigation and those of the previous deaths investigated.
