Prison Employee Admits Misconduct in Relationship with Zara Aleena’s Killer

An individual employed at a prison has confessed to engaging in an “inappropriate relationship” with the person convicted of murdering Zara Aleena. Hayley Jones, aged 33, residing in Strood, Kent, entered a guilty plea to a charge of misconduct in public office. This charge relates to her association with Jordan McSweeney during 2023 while he was incarcerated at HMP Belmarsh. Jordan McSweeney, 31, was absent from a video link appearance at Woolwich Crown Court. Staff at HMP Long Lartin stated that his non-appearance was due to his assertion that he was “having difficulty with walking”. McSweeney is currently serving a life sentence for the murder and sexual assault of Ms Aleena, a 35-year-old law graduate who resided in Ilford. Previously, McSweeney had also failed to attend a hearing at the same court, having informed prison officers that he “couldn’t be bothered”. Furthermore, he declined to appear in court for his sentencing in 2022 for the murder of Ms Aleena, which occurred as she was walking home after an evening out in east London. On Thursday, officials at HMP Long Lartin informed Woolwich Crown Court that McSweeney was unable to reach the video link room because of his reported walking difficulty. McSweeney faces a charge of encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence. Jones, who held the position of a prison workshop instructor, received conditional bail. A pre-sentence report has been requested in advance of her sentencing, for which a date is yet to be determined. McSweeney is scheduled to appear at the same court on November 19 for an additional hearing, and a provisional trial date has been established for April 13, 2026.