Aleena killer was a convict wanted for return to prison

The man who murdered Zara Aleena was ordered to be returned to prison two days before the attack, but was left free to hunt the law graduate before kicking her to death.

Jordan McSweeney, 29, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the murder and sexual assault of Aleena on 26 June 2022, in Ilford, east London.

Aleena, who worked as a court official, was followed, grabbed from behind, dragged from the street on to a driveway before McSweeney kicked and stamped on her .

McSweeney committed the murder nine days after being released on licence from prison on 17 June for an earlier offence of robbery.

However, the Guardian has learned McSweeney had been recalled to prison two days before the attack and should not have been free .

The Metropolitan police say they were told he had been recalled to prison on 24 June for breaching his licence conditions, a decision taken by the probation service.

The Met said McSweeney – a serial offender – failed immediately on his release from prison on licence to attend appointments he was supposed to with probation officers, missing meetings on 17 and 20 June , with police not receiving notification to arrest him until a week later.

The Ministry of Justice has launched an internal review into how an offender committed a serious further offence. The Met said “within hours” of being asked to find McSweeney they were searching for him, but could not locate him .