Prison worker charged over ‘inappropriate relationship with Zara Aleena’s killer’

A prison workshop instructor has been charged with having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with Zara Aleena’s killer.

Hayley Jones, 33, allegedly grew close Jordan McSweeney, 31, who is serving a 38-year sentence at HMP Belmarsh, which is one of the UK’s most secure jails.

McSweeney murdered law student Zara, 35, as she walked home in Ilford, east London days after he was released from prison for robbery.

He dragged her into a driveway where he repeatedly kicked and stamped on her with a ‘savagery that is almost impossible to believe’, prosecutors said.

Now Jones is set to appear in court today accused of wilful misconduct in a public office.

McSweeney has also been charged with assisting the commission of an offence between March 6 and April 7 in 2023 while he was serving time in the prison in south east London.

Jones was arrested in April last year and suspended after police received an allegation of inappropriate conduct.

Zara’s aunt 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.

‘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.’

A Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment on live legal proceedings.’

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