Zara Aleena’s murderer Jordan McSweeney was recalled to prison late because a probation officer missed an email sent days before her death, inquest told

Zara Aleena’s killer Jordan McSweeney was belatedly recalled to prison after a probation officer missed an email sent days before her death, an inquest has heard.

The sexual predator had 28 previous convictions when he murdered the 35-year-old law student in Ilford, East Londonon June 26, 2022.

He was released on license nine days before he attacked Zara.

Probation officer Devina Ford told the East London Coroner’s Court that she had ‘unfortunately’ missed the message asking her to sign off on the paperwork to trigger his recall on June 22. As a result, the paperwork was not completed until June 24.

McSweeney was initially released from jail on June 17, but failed to attend his first probation appointment. His mother said he passed out drunk, the inquest heard.

Zara Aleena, 35, was sexually assaulted and murdered by Jordan McSweeney in Ilford, East London, on June 26, 2022

Jordan McSweeney was late recalled to prison after a probation officer missed an email sent just days before her death, an inquest has heard

He then failed to show up for his second second appointment on June 20, with his mother claiming she had not seen him since his release.

The inquest previously heard that newly qualified probation officer, Austin Uwaifo, accepted that he should have classified McSweeney as high risk rather than medium – which he said was a ‘mistake’.

His line manager, Ms Ford, felt she should have supervised Mr Uwaifo’s work better, for which she apologised.

She also acknowledged that McSweeney should have been classified as high risk in February 2021.

Ms Ford said she was aware at the time how crucial her role was in protecting the public and that her work was not up to standard.

PC Paul Cozins, who worked with the integrated management team to monitor persistent offenders, told the court McSweeney’s case was discussed at a meeting the day after he missed his second trial appointment.

Rajeev Thacker, representing Ms Aleena’s family, asked him if alarm bells had been raised over McSweeney’s missed appointments, allegations that he had been drinking and the lack of information about his whereabouts. PC Cozins said yes.

He said he didn’t know if he had spoken out because “not everything is documented.”

It was apparently agreed at the meeting that police would visit the homes of McSweeney’s mother and grandmother, but this did not happen, the inquest was told.

PC Cozins said: ‘It comes down to workload’.

The investigation continues.