The case against killer Jordan McSweeney for being in an inappropriate relationship with a prison guard has been dropped. 

McSweeney is serving a life sentence at HMP Belmarsh in Thamesmead for the murder of Zara Aleena in Ilford in 2022. 

Prison workshop instructor Hayley Jones, 33, previously admitted misconduct in a public office over an inappropriate relationship with the 31-year-old prisoner between March 6 2023 and April 7 2023. 

McSweeney was charged with encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence. 

Former prison worker Hayley JonesFormer prison worker Hayley Jones (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Woolwich Crown Court heard that McSweeney claimed he received special favours and treatment as a result of his relationship with Jones. 

On Tuesday (November 19) prosecutor Polly Dyer said the Crown Prosecution Service had undertaken a review of the charge against McSweeney in light of Jones’ guilty plea. 

Ms Dyer said reviewing lawyers took into account the evidence against McSweeney and whether it was in the public interest to prosecute him. 

McSweeney refused to attend court throughout the case. 

Jordan McSweeneyJordan McSweeney (Image: Met Police) His Honour Judge David Miller formally recorded a not guilty verdict against McSweeney, noting he had “never graced us with his presence”. 

Jones, of Strood in Kent, entered her plea to the charge during a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court last month. 

Rosalia Myttas-Perris, representing Jones, said her client was a “vulnerable young woman”. 

Jones will be sentenced on February 4.

Law graduate Zara Aleena was 35 when she was murdered Law graduate Zara Aleena was 35 when she was murdered (Image: Met Police) McSweeney killed 35-year-old Zara as she walked home from a night out in Ilford in the early hours of June 26 2022. 

A court heard he targeted at least five other women before he attacked Zara.

He followed her along Cranbrook Road before grabbing her from behind and dragging her into a driveway where he attacked her for nine minutes resulting in 46 separate injuries. 

He was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting sexually assaulting and murdering her. 

McSweeney was described as a career criminal who had been in and out of prison from the age of 16.

In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence to 33 years.