A PRISON workshop instructor has been charged after allegedly having a month-long “inappropriate relationship” with Zara Aleena’s killer in the UK’s most secure jail.
Hayley Jones, 33, is said to have grown close to Jordan McSweeney, 31, who is serving at least 38 years in HMP Belmarsh for the murder of 35-year-old Zara.
She is set to appear in court tomorrow accused of wilful misconduct in a public office – an offence which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
McSweeney has also been charged with assisting the commission of an offence between March 6 and April 7 2023 while he was serving time in the category A prison in Thamesmead, south east London.
Jones, from Strood in Kent, was arrested in April last year and suspended from duties after cops received an allegation of inappropriate conduct.
The aunt of murdered law graduate Zara said that she was “deeply disappointed and shocked” that McSweeney had been charged again for a crime behind bars.
Farah Naz told The Sun: “This undermines the very notion of justice.
“When he was sentenced to life imprisonment, I reassured my family that justice had been served and his life was effectively over.
“This situation not only defies the principles of justice but also exposes serious systemic failures.
“The inquest into Zara’s death concluded that systemic failures allowed this man to murder her.
“We must understand and uncover how a Class A prisoner – convicted of murder and sexual offences in a high security prison – was apparently left alone with a female prison worker long enough to allegedly form a relationship and engage in sexual activities.
“There are serious questions about the management practices at Belmarsh prison, including the screening processes for prison staff and the adequacy of supervision.
“It is crucial to investigate whether the female worker is being scapegoated to hide systemic failures.
“Addressing these broader issues is essential to prevent future breaches and ensure true justice is served.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on live legal proceedings.”
A newly bolstered Counter-Corruption Unit works to root out and clamp down on staff who are accused of wrongdoing.
Jones and McSweeney are both set to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning for their first hearings.
McSweeney had been released from a prison sentence just days before he pounced on Zara as she walked home in Ilford, east London.
His licence was revoked after failing to meet probation officers but he was not recalled to prison, where he was serving time for robbery.
This meant the predator, who was jailed for life for murder, was free to roam the streets hunting for a victim.
On the night of Zara’s murder, McSweeney was captured on CCTV stalking the streets of east London.
At least four other women managed to escape the killer’s clutches as followed them in the darkness.
One even ran for safety into a home on the same street where Zara was brutally murdered.
After setting his sights on the law graduate, McSweeney dragged her into a driveway where he repeatedly kicked and stamped on her.
Zara was discovered partially clothed and struggling to breath by horrified neighbours who heard her screams.
The prosecutor said she had been attacked with “savagery that is almost impossible to believe”.
A post-mortem gave her cause of death as blunt force trauma injury and neck compression.
McSweeney was described as a “damaged” person from a troubled childhood in court.
His ex-girlfriend Stella Lowe also told how the brute was a “ticking time bomb”.
By Harry Goodwin
June 26, 2022
In the early hours of June 26, 2022, Jordan McSweeney was captured on CCTV stalking the streets of East London.
At least four other women managed to escape the killer’s clutches as he followed them in the darkness.
One even ran for safety into a home on the same street where Zara was brutally murdered.
Evil McSweeney then pounced on Zara as she walked home – just nine days after he was released from a prison sentence.
December 2022
McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey after admitting Ms Aleena’s murder and sexual assault.
The licence McSweeney was on at the time for a string of offences had been revoked after he failed to meet probation officers.
But he was not recalled to prison – and was free to roam the streets hunting for a victim.
McSweeney was on licence for criminal damage, racially aggravated harassment and unauthorised possession of a knife in prison.
November 2023
McSweeney won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his sentence to 33 years.
June 2024
Failures “across multiple agencies” contributed to Zara Aleena’s death, an inquest jury found.
Her aunt Farah Naz slammed authorities after the inquest, saying “her brutal murder could and should have been prevented”.
Zara died in hospital from a blunt force head injury and neck compression, the inquest jury said.
Her family previously told the inquest how they are “tortured by thoughts that Zara’s death was preventable”.
Aunt Farah Naz said her niece’s murder showed “the crumbling justice system that is meant to protect all of us, especially women and girls”.
