According to a recent post by PM News on 19th of May, a former correctional officer has been spared a prison term after admitting to a prolonged illicit affair with a convicted rapist, during which she sneaked banned items into the facility and tried to impregnate herself using the inmate’s semen....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
Cherri-Ann Austin-Saddington, 29, had a secret six-month relationship with Bradley Trengrove while she was employed at HMP The Verne, located in Portland, Dorset.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Trengrove was serving a 13-year sentence for rape and engaging in sexual acts with a minor.
The relationship, which kicked off in August 2022, included dozens of intimate encounters in prison workshops—allegedly happening as many as 40 times, as revealed in court.
After Trengrove was moved to HMP Channings Wood in Devon, Saddington reportedly tried to self-inseminate using a Calpol medicine syringe and his semen preserved in cling film.
Authorities arrested her during a visit to the prison on May 26, 2023, after discovering the used syringe concealed in her bra. She was also noted to be without underwear at the time.
She pleaded guilty to abusing her position as a public servant. However, the court, taking into account her declining physical condition, handed her a two-year suspended sentence. She had suffered a spinal stroke in February 2024 that left her in a wheelchair.
Judge Jonathan Fuller KC noted: “If not for her medical condition resulting from the stroke, a custodial sentence would have been inevitable.”
In a post-sentencing interview with MailOnline, Saddington described the outcome as a relief: “I’m glad the sentence was suspended.”
Although she acknowledged being fully aware of Trengrove’s criminal background, she explained that she was emotionally vulnerable and seeking a sense of stability. “I needed something solid in my life,” she said. “I had no home, was trying to care for my kids, and felt shattered. Then Bradley showed up, and I thought he was trying to help.”
She alleged that Trengrove deceived her by claiming he had been wrongly convicted. Upon discovering the true details of his crimes, she said she felt “repulsed” and “humiliated.” “He’s extremely dangerous,” she added.
The court also learned that she smuggled a phone into the prison to maintain contact with Trengrove, listing his number under “husband to be” in her contacts.
Saddington also disclosed that she became pregnant by him but suffered a miscarriage at eight weeks. She further accused him of removing her contraceptive device without her consent.
In March 2023, after Trengrove’s transfer to a different prison, Saddington visited him under a false identity. During this encounter, officials found she was attempting to bring in another syringe, supposedly to carry out another insemination attempt.
Defending her actions, she later claimed: “I only brought the syringe so he’d see it and not harm himself. I never planned to go through with it.”
Saddington eventually moved on and married a new partner in November 2024. “He knew about everything from the beginning,” she said. The couple now live in a home modified to accommodate her disability.
Despite the conviction, some observers have expressed disbelief over the court’s lenient decision.
One of her former landlords told MailOnline, “It’s just the type of person she is. I don’t get why so many young women fall for inmates. It’s beyond me.”
An acquaintance commented, “She basically dodged the consequences. It’s baffling, especially when she has three young children.”
Saddington has since urged fellow prison staff who may be struggling emotionally or mentally to seek assistance. “If you’re in a bad place, reach out. Support exists. I deeply regret everything I did—I feel ashamed and horrified.”
Her story has reignited discussions about ethical boundaries in correctional facilities, how inmates can manipulate staff, and the resources available to help employees in crisis.
