A shocking case has emerged from North Wales, where Anthony Saunderson, a notorious drug gang leader, was found to have engaged in a romantic relationship with Kerri Pegg, the governor of the prison where he was incarcerated. This scandal has not only exposed the depths of corruption within the prison system but has also raised questions about the integrity of those tasked with overseeing inmates.

Anthony Saunderson was a prominent figure in an organized crime syndicate responsible for producing drugs on an alarming scale. His operations, which utilized the encrypted messaging service EncroChat, were so extensive that North Wales Police described the quantity of drugs produced as 'eye-watering.' Saundersons criminal journey began in Formby, where he was one of Merseysides most wanted fugitives, having played a key role in the importation of 19 million worth of cocaine embedded in corned beef shipments from Argentina.

After being apprehended in May 2014, Saunderson was sentenced to ten years in prison in November of that year for drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. Just under three years into his sentence, in June 2017, he was transferred to HMP Kirkham, an open prison located between Preston and Blackpool. It was during this time that he began a relationship with Kerri Pegg, 42, who was recognized as a 'rising star' in the Prison Service.

Despite initial concerns regarding Pegg's close association with Saunderson, their relationship deepened, leading to serious breaches of prison protocol. As evidence presented in court revealed, Pegg approved Saundersons request for temporary release without the necessary authority or proper notification to higher officials. This reckless act was just one of the many infractions that marred her time overseeing the facility.

Following his release in May 2019, Saunderson took on the role of developing and delivering the 'Beating Alcohol and Drug Dependency' (BADD) program for fellow inmates across several facilities. However, while working on this initiative, he quickly became embroiled in another drug conspiracy. Just two months after his release, he was linked to a gang responsible for producing amphetamines on an industrial scale at a location in Sealand, Flintshire. In August 2022, he was sentenced to an astonishing 31 years in prison for his involvement in manufacturing and distributing amphetamines, along with trafficking other illegal substances including heroin, cocaine, and cannabis.

The investigation into Saunderson's renewed criminal activity was the culmination of an extensive operation known as Operation Blue Sword. This joint effort by North Wales Police and Merseyside Police revealed the gang's extensive drug distribution network across England, Wales, and Scotland, with crucial evidence obtained through monitoring their communications on EncroChat.

As the investigation unfolded, authorities discovered a storage unit in Aintree that housed significant amounts of chemical precursors and equipment essential for drug production. The evidence gathered ultimately implicated Pegg in the scandal, leading to her downfall. Her claims of innocence were undermined when testimonies surfaced from gang members expressing discontent over Saunderson's close association with her.

Peggs extravagant lifestyle also came under scrutiny when it was revealed that she had traded in her Honda Jazz for a luxurious 12,000 Mercedes C class car, which was reportedly financed through drug proceeds. Messages exchanged between Saunderson and his associates indicated that he was using the gangs illicit profits to fund Peggs new vehicle. The prosecution revealed text messages where Saunderson humorously referred to driving around with 'Peggy' in her new car, highlighting the depths of their entanglement.

In late 2020, when Pegg was arrested, the Mercedes was parked outside her home, solidifying the connection between the two. Ultimately, Pegg was found guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of possession of criminal property, specifically the Mercedes car. In a decisive ruling, Judge Graham Knowles KC indicated that Pegg should expect a prison sentence, emphasizing the severity of her actions.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Boycott of North Wales Police commented on the scale of the gangs drug production, stating, 'The criminal gang produced amphetamine on an industrial scale. The evidence gathered as part of the investigation revealed that, between April and June 2020, the quantities of controlled drugs produced were eye-watering. The Sealand illicit lab converted 2.6 tonnes of raw chemicals into controlled drugs.' Boycott further estimated that during that three-month period, the gang was responsible for producing over 900 litres of amphetamine oil and approximately 700 kilograms of amphetamine, all valued at around 1 million.