The horrific murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif shocked the world, igniting global outrage against her father, Urfan Sharif, who admitted to brutally ending his daughter’s life. However, the tragedy extends beyond the “campaign of torture” Sara endured. The details of her suffering are deeply unsettling.
Behind bars, Urfan’s identity as a “sadistic” child killer spread rapidly among inmates, leading fellow prisoners to take matters into their own hands.
The Tragic Case
On August 8, 2023, the heartbreaking story of Sara Sharif, a bright and affectionate girl, dominated headlines. According to the BBC, Sara was subjected to a two-year ordeal of torture, including being hooded, burned, and beaten before her body was discovered at her family home in Woking, Surrey.
Police found Sara in a bunk bed alongside a handwritten confession from her father, which read: “Whoever sees this note, it’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating. I am running away because I am scared.” He later added, “I swear to God my intention was not to kill her. But I lost it.”
Adding to the shock, Urfan, along with Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik (29) and stepmother Beinash Batool (30), fled to Pakistan the day before her body was discovered. After an international manhunt, all three were charged in her death.
A “Campaign of Torture”
Court proceedings revealed Sara endured over 70 injuries, including fractured ribs, shoulder blades, fingers, 11 spinal fractures, a head puncture wound, traumatic brain injury, a burn from a household iron, and human bite marks. Initially denying involvement, Urfan later confessed in court, stating, “She died because of me.”
On December 17, 2024, Urfan received a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years, while Batool was sentenced to 33 years. Malik received 16 years for enabling Sara’s death. During sentencing, Mr. Justice Cavanagh described their actions as “almost inconceivable in their cruelty.”
Sara’s birth mother, Olga Domin, condemned the trio as “executioners” in a court statement, adding, “She is now an angel who looks down on us from heaven. She is no longer experiencing violence.”
Prison Attack
Upon entering prison, Urfan faced the harsh reality of life among inmates governed by an unspoken code that abhors crimes against children. At London’s HMP Belmarsh—dubbed “Britain’s Guantanamo Bay”—Urfan tried to stay unnoticed. However, his crimes quickly made him a target.
A source told The Sun: “Inmates were disgusted by his abuse of Sara. Even among those serving time for heinous crimes, child abusers are despised.”
On New Year’s Day, weeks into his sentence, two prisoners ambushed Urfan in his cell using a makeshift weapon—a jagged tuna can lid. An insider revealed: “He was sliced in the neck and face, requiring stitches. He’s lucky to survive and will bear permanent scars.”
Guards had attempted to protect him, but the attack was seen as inevitable. One attacker was reportedly Steve Sansom, a lifer convicted of murdering and dismembering Sarah Mayhew (38) in 2024 and previously killing cab driver Terrence Boyle (59) in 1999.
Public Reaction
Many view the attack as a form of vigilante justice. As one source noted, “Inmates say it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person.”
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