Jordan McSweeney

Jordan McSweeney, 29, admitted killing and sexually assaulting the 35-year-old law graduate in Ilford, east London, in a late-night attack in June. She was ...

She was partially naked and struggling to breathe, having sustained 46 separate injuries in the nine-minute beating. Eleven years later, he was made the subject of a restraining order that barred him from contacting another female victim. She died later the same morning. She described him as a "pugnacious and deeply violent man". She added that his "extreme indifference" to her niece's life and the law made him a "very dangerous man". Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said of the attack: "It was a steep and sudden escalation of violence that had simmered in his life for many years."

Jordan McSweeney was caught on CCTV following two other women before he targeted the 35-year-old walking home.

“Zara means literally radiance and she was the heart of us. He had no fear of the consequences.” Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams said: “He can only be described as a danger to women. She is remembered clearly and fondly by all who taught her. Our thoughts are with Zara’s family and loved ones at this dreadful time. Ms Aleena, who was training to achieve her dream of becoming a solicitor, had begun working at the Royal Courts of Justice five weeks before her death and was “the happiest she had ever been”, her family said. That’s what’s been taken, the heart of us. In everything else, she was better than him. “I think of her as an ambassador of the end of violence against women and girls, and I think she would be really proud to be that.” The heart of our family and the heart of her community, the heart of her friends, and that’s how we remember her. Ms Aleena was a talented and spirited woman, the judge said, adding: “The defendant had the advantage of strength and surprise. “He repeatedly kicked and stamped on her head and body, he tore some of her clothes from her body in order that he could sexually assault her, and then he attacked her again, kicking and stamping on her face and neck, and returning several times to continue the brutal violence.

Women's campaigners claim her death could have been avoided if police had arrested him hours earlier for breaching prison licence terms.

In a heart-rending statement read to the court, Ms Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz, said of her late niece: “She was just walking home. He was arrested a few hours later after police followed his route on CCTV. Tragically, McSweeney then spotted Ms Aleena walking up the road. The 35-year-old had been returning from a night out with friends when she was ambushed from behind by McSweeney. The footage showed him knocking Ms Aleena unconscious, partially stripping her and beginning his sexual assault. Ms Aleena’s family chose to leave the court while the harrowing footage played.

Jordan McSweeney was captured prowling the streets as he followed women down alleyways and into shops in the hours before his sickening attack and murder of ...

Despite only being yards from a public street and from residential properties, the defendant attacked Zara Aleena with a savagery that is almost impossible to believe." "Tragically for Zara Aleena, of course, she was not so fortunate. [McSweeney, 29, attacked the 35-year-old](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-zara-aleena-killer-admits-28464127) law graduate just nine days after he was released from prison. Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow KC said: "On the night of June 25, 2022, he had left a pub in Ilford and had roamed the streets looking for a woman to attack and to sexually assault. The footage showed McSweeney approaching Zara from behind, before dragging her into the front garden of a property in Cranbrook Road and attacking her. The woman then enters a shop and chillingly, McSweeney follows and proceeds to walk around the shop before leaving and loitering around the corner.

Jordan McSweeney beat Zara Aleena to death as she walked home from a night out in east London.

that we really can't allow out on the streets." Seemingly intent on not losing her, McSweeney follows the woman into a shop, then loiters outside until she emerges. "Lo and behold, 'Yes,' they said," Det Ch Insp Whellams says. 25 June - In the early hours, officers visit McSweeney's mother's house to arrest him - but he is not there 20 June - McSweeney fails to attend a second probation appointment 17 June - McSweeney leaves prison on licence but fails to attend a probation appointment At the time, McSweeney was working at a fairground in Valentine's Park - close to where he attacked Ms Aleena - and the footage shows him climbing a fence to the park after the attack. Two days later, the police were told - and within hours, went to McSweeney's mother's house to arrest him. "His very demeanour, the way he is, the focus that he has and his don't-care-less attitude," Det Ch Insp Whellams says, "he is somebody… But more and more CCTV footage was being uncovered - and officers were able to work out what led up to him killing Ms Aleena. "And then the next question was, 'Do you know where he is?' And the answer to that was, 'Yes he's in that caravan asleep.'" Clips were circulated within the Metropolitan Police - and one officer, recognising him from a previous encounter, came forward to provide a name, Jordan McSweeney.

Samantha Bryan says she was often abused during a four-year relationship with Zara Aleena's killer.

Ms Bryan said she wasn't surprised by that and from the moment she heard he had been arrested for murder, she knew he wasn't going to play ball or comply. this is what he deserves," she said. "He's a monster, he's a monster and he deserves to suffer for the rest of his life. It's something that I am never going to forget but I am lucky I still have my life," she said. "He got me to the ground, stamped all over me… "His main thing would be to get you to the ground to kick…