A prison teacher has been accused of having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a murderer incarcerated at HMP Belmarsh. The accused individual, Jordan McSweeney, aged 31, is serving a minimum of 33 years for the murder of Zara Aleena. The case unfolded at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, with Hayley Jones, aged 33, facing charges of misconduct in a public office related to the alleged relationship with McSweeney.
It is claimed that Jones abused the public’s trust during her interactions with McSweeney, who brutally killed 35-year-old Ms. Aleena as she made her way home after a night out in 2022. McSweeney appeared in court via video-link, while Jones was present in person. The prosecution alleges that the misconduct occurred between March 6, 2023, and April 7, 2023. The offence carries a potential penalty of life imprisonment.
The court session was brief, with the case adjourned until September 25 at Woolwich Crown Court. Jones was granted bail on conditions that she does not contact McSweeney or visit the prison where he is detained. McSweeney’s sentence was originally a minimum of 38 years, reduced from life, following his admission of guilt for the assault and murder of Ms. Aleena. In a successful Court of Appeal appeal in November 2023, his minimum term was further reduced to 33 years.
Expressing concerns about the case, Zara Aleena’s aunt, Far, called for an investigation into Belmarsh Prison’s operational procedures, staff screening, and oversight mechanisms. She highlighted the need to scrutinise how a convicted sexual predator and murderer was allowed unsupervised interaction with a female staff member. The case is set to continue in the upcoming court dates, as legal proceedings unfold regarding the alleged misconduct and its repercussions.