Hayley Jones, 34, was a prison workshop officer at HMP Belmarsh in Thamesmead when CCTV footage caught her kissing, touching and playing with McSweeney – who was serving a life sentence for the brutal sexual assault and murder of 35-year-old Zara Aleena in Ilford.
Footage also showed the pair leaving rooms which had no CCTV whilst adjusting their clothes.
In a letter which was intercepted by guards, McSweeney told another prisoner that he had been “f***ing the fat thing from the workshop” for 10 months.
He also claimed she had been providing him with contraband such as a phone, “man was living good” McSweeney wrote.
Jones admitted kissing and touching took place between her and McSweeney but denies having sex with him or providing him with contraband.
‘Kiss, bum pinching and embraces’
Jones had worked at HMP Belmarsh since 2018 and received training addressing the issue of illicit relationships with prisoners, including a case study which was remarkably similar to her own case.
“Concerns were raised about a relationship between Ms Jones and Mr McSweeney by an employee at HMP Belmarsh who witnessed them holding hands with their faces very close together. On seeing him they quickly parted,” prosecutor Polly Dyer told Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (March 21).
The witness also heard another prisoner say something along the lines of “looks like they like each other”.
This prompted staff to check CCTV in the workshop for the period of March 6 to April 7, 2023.
“The CCTV shows inappropriate interactions between Ms Jones and Mr McSweeney on a daily basis,” Ms Dyer said.
At first the pair were seen games such as McSweeney sitting in a trolley whilst Jones pulled him around, or McSweeney turning off lights and her turning them back on.
The contact then became more physical with McSweeney seen messing up her hair, flicking her ears, and taking hold of her neck in both hands and pretending to throttle her.
Some footage gave cause for serious security concerns, such as when he prevented her from shutting gates by hugging her or when he was seen touching the area where she stored her prison key.
Ms Dyer said: “Mr McSweeney can also been seen pinching her bottom. He can be seen kissing Ms Jones on the cheek.
“Then within the backroom are the most physical interactions such as Mr McSweeney touching her neck, embraces between them, Mr McSweeney touching her chest area, Mr McSweeney moving her around, and a kiss or kisses between them.”
Ms Dyer said: “Ms Jones is regularly seen smiling and laughing with Mr McSweeney, and seems happy at the interactions between them.”
A poem written by McSweeney to ‘Muriel’, a name which was also seen on the fob for Jones’ car keys, was also discovered.
On McSweeney’s claims that he’d been having sex with Jones for 10 months in return for contraband, Judge David Miller said: “It can’t be verified. It could be him bragging.”
‘I liked the attention’
Rosalia Myttas-Perris, defending Jones, described McSweeney as a “manipulative career criminal” and “a lifer with nothing to lose”.
McSweeney murdered Zara Aleena, a complete stranger, as she walked home from a night out in Ilford.
The killer had followed a number of woman on the same night before he carried out the brutal sexual attack on Ms Aleena, a law graduate.
Ms Myttas-Perris said: “It is slightly concerning that Mr McSweeney, despite his history of aggression and violence including to prison officers, was given an ordinary job and was allowed to roam around as freely as was seen on CCTV.
“Ms Jones had previously reported him for making her feel uncomfortable and no action was taken.
“I’m not seeking to justify her behaviour but I’m seek for your honour to consider her position and put yourself in her position.
“She’s alone in a space with someone with a history of violence towards women of the most serious kind. She is the victim of prison violence which caused serious injury.
“She goes along with it because unfortunately it was the easy thing to do. He showed interest in her, paying her compliments.
“Sadly she didn’t report it as she should have, no doubt that’s a regret which will remain with her for the rest of her life.”
Jones, a mum to one boy, told the author of a pre-sentence report that she “liked the attention”.
Judge David Miller, sentencing, told Jones: “I’ve viewed some of the CCTV and note what seems to be an established and mutual fondness with smiles and physical intimacy.
“There is no sign that this was unwanted by you or that the prisoner was imposing this on you.”
He added: “It is not know what took place off-camera, save to say there is footage of both you emerging from an off-camera area adjusting your clothing.”
He sentenced her to nine months in prison, saying: “The public and prison staff who hold this public office must know that misconduct of this kind will result in an immediate prison sentence.”
McSweeney killed 35-year-old Ms Aleena as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of June 26 2022.
He was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting to sexually assaulting and murdering her.
In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence to 33 years.
A CPS spokesperson said: “Jordan McSweeney is facing a lifetime behind bars for the brutal killing of Zara Aleena, an offence he was convicted of following a successful prosecution by the CPS.
“In July, we brought fresh charges against McSweeney and Hayley Jones, a prison worker, relating to an inappropriate relationship at HMP Belmarsh.
“While Jones has pleaded guilty to committing misconduct in public office, there is insufficient evidence to prove that McSweeney was guilty of a further criminal offence. He remains behind bars.”
