the pair managed to gain access to a room
Police have launched an investigation as Zara Aleena’s killer was allegedly caught having sex with a prison worker inside HMP Belmarsh.
Jordan McSweeney stalked, sexually assaulted and murdered Zara days after being released from prison in June 2022.
Despite being held in one of the UK’s top-security prisons, McSweeney was allegedly caught having sex with a female prison worker in April 2023.
He was caught with the woman after the pair managed to gain access to a room inside the prison, which they then locked from the inside.
The woman, who is not a prison officer, has been suspended and has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct.
An internal investigation into how the incident happened is underway.
After breaching licencing conditions in 2022, recall proceedings were launched against McSweeney.
However, these were too late to save Zara Aleena, who sustained 46 separate injuries.
McSweeney pursued five women before attacking the aspiring lawyer.
The killer refused to attend his sentencing hearing and also walked out of an appeal to have his 38-year sentence reduced.
During his sentence appeal, the Old Bailey heard McSweeney stalked Zara in Ilford. He then grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a driveway.
In what was described as a “merciless” attack, Zara was strangled and stamped to death.
An unnamed prison officer said:
“He’s heard enough and has got everything he requires in his cell.”
On November 3, his sentence was eventually reduced to life with a minimum of 33 years.
In response to the decision, Zara’s aunt Farah Naz said:
“Today’s decision, a decision to reduce the minimum sentence for that repugnant man, aligns with an established legal sentencing framework, a framework we comprehend.
“Yet, the message it conveys to women is disheartening, suggesting that a ‘life sentence’ may not truly mean a lifetime behind bars. It is, in all honesty, a shallow triumph for him.”
McSweeney had been released from prison nine days before the killing.
A report found several errors leading up to the decision.
This included McSweeney not being treated as a high-risk offender and subsequent delays to signing off on a recall to prison order after he breached his licence conditions within days of release.
He was also released despite the probation service having no record of where he would be staying after his mother requested he not be sent to her address.
The Met Police said: “On 6 April 2023, the Met received an allegation of inappropriate conduct involving a serving member of staff at HMP Belmarsh.
“The same day, a 32-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.”
“She was bailed pending further enquiries until a date in late July. She was later released under investigation. Enquiries are ongoing.”
The Ministry of Justice previously warned it takes all allegations of staff wrongdoing “extremely seriously”, adding that staff found guilty of inappropriate relationships with prisoners can be sent to prison themselves.
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