Cherrie-Ann Austin-Saddington, a former prison officer at HMP The Verne in Dorset, began a sexual relationship with inmate Bradley Trengrove, a convicted rapist, leading to her own criminal conviction. The affair started when Trengrove passed her a hidden mobile phone number in a magazine, which she chose not to report.
Austin-Saddington, now 29, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office. She was arrested in May 2023 after attempting to smuggle a Calpol syringe to Trengrove, which he intended for her to use to inseminate herself with his sperm. In February 2024, she suffered a spinal stroke, leaving her paralysed from the chest down, leading to a suspended two-year sentence.
The case highlights a systemic issue within the Prison Service, with at least 64 staff recommended for dismissal for inappropriate relationships with prisoners between 2019 and 2024. Overwhelmingly, female officers are convicted, with at least 10 women in the past year facing charges. Other cases include Linda de Sousa Abreu, sentenced to 15 months for a sexual encounter at HMP Wandsworth, and Kerri Pegg, a former governor sentenced to nine years for a relationship with a drug trafficker.
Austin-Saddington knew Trengrove was a sex offender when the relationship began. She expressed regret, stating, 'I know I didn't get prison time, but I am locked inside my body for the rest of my life.' The Ministry of Justice acknowledges the problem, but the true number of cases is likely higher, as many go undetected or resign before dismissal.
