A predatory career criminal has pleaded guilty to murdering a newly trained lawyer as she walked home alone at night, just days after he was released from prison.
Zara Aleena, 35, was ambushed from behind and viciously attacked by Jordan McSweeney on a quiet street in Ilford, east London, on June 26.
CCTV showed the assailant stamping on Ms Aleena before leaving her bleeding and struggling to breathe with serious injuries.
Her partially clothed body was found shortly afterwards and she died of her injuries in hospital.
McSweeney had been stalking the area that night and watched several other women before eventually deciding to target Ms Aleena.
The attack, caught in its entirety on CCTV, showed Ms Aleena being dragged by her killer to the driveway of a house on Cranbrook Road, forced to the ground and then stamped on.
Police arrested McSweeney at a caravan where he was living on June 27, where a bag full of blood-stained clothes and shoes were recovered.
Wearing a grey prison tracksuit and with his head bowed, the 29-year-old defendant, of Dagenham, east London, pleaded guilty to Ms Aleena’s murder, as well as sexual assault during a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday.
It can now be revealed that McSweeney had been released from prison on June 17 and had been on licence.
McSweeney has 28 previous convictions for 69 separate offences including burglary, theft of motor vehicles, driving offences, criminal damage and also assaults on police officers and on members of the public.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb will sentence McSweeney on Dec 14.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Olcay Sapanoglu said: "We welcome today the guilty pleas by Jordan McSweeney to the murder and sexual assault of Zara Aleena in the early hours of Saturday, 26 June, 2022.
"It was an horrific attack on a woman walking home after a night out with a friend.
"It appears clear that McSweeney was intent that night on finding a woman to attack. Having seen Zara walking home he decided to follow her.
"Having followed her for several minutes he pulled Zara into the driveway of a house, where he carried out his assault.
"He sexually assaulted her, then brutally stamped on her several times before appearing to walk away. Moments later he returned, only to stamp on her several times more and then, finally, leaving her for dead.
"McSweeney did not display a shred of humanity towards Zara. Indeed, having completed his initial assault he returned to inflict further injuries, leading to her death. At no stage during his police interviews did he express any sorrow for his actions.
"Zara’s family will never recover from the senseless loss of their daughter, but I hope that these guilty pleas bring them some comfort.
"Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the police, who worked tirelessly to trace Zara’s killer allowing us to build the strongest case possible against McSweeney."
Speaking outside court, DCI Dave Whellams, the senior investigating officer, said: “Zara Aleena was just 35 years of age.
“She has been described by her family as a joy, a beloved love human being a friend, niece, cousin, granddaughter and friend to all.
“She was attacked for walking alone on a residential street. She had every right to be there. She had every right to feel safe.
“Instead, she was a victim of shocking violence. My thoughts are with her family and friends. I cannot imagine the pain that they've experienced over the past five to six months.
“It is clear she was truly loved by all those that knew her.”
He added: “Jordan McSweeney has pleaded guilty today to the most serious offences, he is clearly a very dangerous individual.
“His guilty plea today means that he is certain to serve a considerable period of time behind the bars.”
