A prison officer has been jailed for nine months after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with Jordan McSweeney, the convicted killer who murdered Zara Aleena in a brutal attack in 2022.

Hayley Jones, 34, a workshop officer at HMP Belmarsh in Thamesmead, was caught on CCTV engaging in physical intimacy with McSweeney, who is serving a life sentence for the sexual assault and murder of 35-year-old Zara Aleena in Ilford, east London.

CCTV Captured Kissing and Intimate Behaviour

Footage showed Jones kissing, touching, and embracing McSweeney inside the prison workshop over a period of weeks between March and April 2023. The pair were also captured entering rooms without CCTV coverage and later seen adjusting their clothing, sparking concerns of sexual activity behind closed doors.

A letter intercepted by prison guards revealed McSweeney bragging to another inmate about the relationship, writing that he had been “f*ing the fat thing from the workshop”** for 10 months and claiming she brought him contraband, including a phone. He boasted, “Man was living good.”

Although Jones admitted to kissing and touching, she denied having sex with McSweeney or supplying him with contraband.

Court Hears of Daily Inappropriate Conduct

At Woolwich Crown Court, prosecutor Polly Dyer told jurors that Jones and McSweeney engaged in inappropriate conduct on a near-daily basis, from playful games to increasingly physical interactions, including bum-pinching, neck grabbing, and embraces.

Jones, who worked at the prison since 2018 and had undergone training on misconduct risks, was reportedly warned previously about McSweeney’s behaviour but failed to report the growing intimacy.

‘I Liked the Attention’ – Jones’ Defence

In her defence, Rosalia Myttas-Perris described McSweeney as a “manipulative career criminal” who preyed on Jones’s vulnerabilities. She added that Jones, a mother, “liked the attention” and fell into a dangerous dynamic with a high-risk prisoner.

“She’s alone in a space with someone with a history of violence towards women,” her lawyer said. “He showed interest in her, and she didn’t report it as she should have. That’s a regret that will remain with her for the rest of her life.”

Judge Condemns Misconduct

Judge David Miller, sentencing Jones, said there was clear evidence of a mutual fondness and physical intimacy.

“There is no sign this was unwanted. You emerged from off-camera areas adjusting clothing, and there was a clear breach of professional standards,” he said.
“The public and prison staff must know that misconduct of this kind will result in an immediate prison sentence.”

McSweeney Remains Behind Bars

McSweeney, who murdered Zara Aleena as she walked home in June 2022, was initially sentenced to life imprisonment with a 38-year minimum term, later reduced to 33 years on appeal.

He was charged with assisting misconduct in public office, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the charge following Jones’s guilty plea, citing insufficient evidence.

A CPS spokesperson added:

“McSweeney remains behind bars. While Jones pleaded guilty, there was not enough evidence to pursue a further conviction against McSweeney for this relationship.”

Zara Aleena’s Legacy

Zara Aleena, a law graduate, was described by her family as a bright, kind, and ambitious woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her case sparked national outrage and calls for stronger protections against violence toward women.

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