Prison employee accused of ‘sexual relationship’ with Zara Aleena’s killer

Zara Aleena's family expressed “deep concern” after a prison employee was accused of having an “inappropriate relationship” with her killer in prison.

Jordan McSweeney is serving a 33-year sentence at HMP Belmarsh maximum security prison for murdering the 35-year-old law graduate as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in June 2022.

Hayley Jones, 33, from Strood, Kent, allegedly had a sexual relationship with 31-year-old McSweeney for a month in the maximum security prison.

She is accused of intentionally misusing a public office.

McSweeney, 31, is also accused of aiding and abetting the crime between March 6 and April 7, 2023.

They are both due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Zara Aleena's family told Mail Online they were “deeply disappointed and disturbed” by allegations of a sexual relationship between McSweeney and Jones.

Her aunt Farah Naz said: “We need to investigate how a maximum security prisoner could apparently be left alone with a member of staff. We need to investigate Belmarsh Prison's management practices, staff vetting and supervision.”

“When he was sentenced to life imprisonment, I assured my family that justice had been done. It is deeply disturbing to learn that the prison system had failed to deal with a Class A prisoner who had been in prison just four months into his life sentence,” she said.

“This situation not only contradicts justice, but also highlights serious systemic failures.”

Ms Naz confirmed that charges had been brought against Jones, but added: “This does not resolve the core question of how such a serious offence could have occurred.” She added that the family was “deeply disappointed” that McSweeney was able to allegedly have a sexual relationship in prison.

The Old Bailey had previously heard that McSweeney attacked Zara Aleena and punched her on the back of the head before dragging the 35-year-old into a driveway.

He kicked her as she lay on the floor walking home after a night of drinking in June 2022.

He sexually assaulted her and then snatched her handbag, mobile phone and keys. He then walked away but returned shortly afterwards to continue his fatal attack, the jury was told.

Ms. Aleena died in hospital from blunt force trauma to the head and neck compression.

McSweeney was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting the murder and sexual assault of wife Aleena.

He had been released on parole just nine days before the murder, but violated his parole conditions and was sent back to prison on June 22.

Two days later, police were given authority to arrest him, but due to delays in paperwork, police were unable to arrest him before he killed her.

In November 2023, McSweeney won an appeals court case to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence from 38 to 33 years.