Zara Aleena murder: What does the probation review report say about Jordan McSweeney?
Jordan McSweeney murdered Zara Aleena as she walked home in Ilford, and a review has highlighted failings by the Probation Service.
A failure by the probation service to treat a violent offender as “high risk” left him free to murder and sexualy assault in Ilford, a review has found.
Zara Aleena, 35, was attacked and killed by Jordan McSweeney as she walked home in June 2022, nine days after he was released on licence from prison.
In December, the 29-year-old killer was sentenced to 38 years behind bars.
A review of the case was ordered last July by justice secretary Dominic Raab, and in a report published today HM Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell highlights a number of failings.
He said in a statement: “Jordan McSweeney should have been considered a high risk of serious harm offender. If he had, more urgent action would have been taken to recall him to prison, after he missed his supervision appointments on release from custody. The Probation Service failed to do so, and he was free to commit this most heinous crime on an innocent, young women.”
He referenced workloads and other pressures on the Probation Service as factors in the failings.
Prisons and Probation Minister Damian Hinds said the government is taking “immediate steps to address the serious issues raised”.
He promised improvements to risk assessments and training.