Disgraced Prison Officer's Shocking Affair with Convicted Sex Offender

In November 2025, Cherrie-Ann Austin-Saddington, a former prison officer, is grappling with the aftermath of her disastrous relationship with convicted sex offender Bradley Trengrove. The 29-year-old was working at HMP The Verne in Dorset when she began a sexual affair with Trengrove, who was serving a 13-year sentence.

Trengrove manipulated Austin-Saddington, who was going through a difficult personal time, into the relationship. He used tactics like sharing private information about her and threatening self-harm to control her. Despite knowing Trengrove's criminal history, Austin-Saddington became emotionally and physically involved with him, even smuggling a phone into the prison for him.

In May 2023, Austin-Saddington was arrested for trying to smuggle a Calpol syringe to Trengrove, which he wanted her to use to inseminate herself. She pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and was given a suspended sentence. However, the fallout from the case has been devastating for Austin-Saddington, who suffered a spinal stroke in early 2024 that left her paralyzed from the chest down.

The story highlights the systemic issues within the prison system, where vulnerable staff are often manipulated by dangerous inmates. Austin-Saddington's case is one of many similar incidents involving female prison officers and male prisoners, raising concerns about the recruitment and management of prison staff.