Father of Sara Sharif injured in prison attack with tuna can lid and in critical condition

Sara Sharif’s killer father has been ambushed in prison and ‘had his neck slashed with tuna can lid’ in a vicious attack.

Two inmates pounced on Urfan Sharif, 43, in his cell on New Years’ Day at HMP Belmarsh, South London. 

Shortly after beginning his 40-year prison sentence, the killer found himself in a critical condition following a vicious attack on his life, however, he managed to survive.

Reportedly, the assailants were disgusted by his mistreatment of a 10-year-old girl from school. The young girl had been subjected to cruel acts including being hooded, bitten, burned, and ultimately beaten to death. Her lifeless body was discovered in the family’s residence in Woking, Surrey, bearing at least 71 injuries.

A source revealed to The Sun that the inmate, Urfan, was severely injured in his cell by two other prisoners who barged in. The attack had been premeditated, and the assailants utilized an improvised weapon crafted from a tuna can lid.

‘He was sliced in the neck and face, and is still in healthcare and in a very bad way.

‘He was lucky to survive, has had to have stitches and will have scars as a permanent reminder of the attack. The guards tried to keep him safe because he obviously had a target on his back after the case was such big news.

‘Something like this was always on the cards, and an attack was probably only a matter of time.’

Police have launched an investigation into the attack. 

Two inmates ambushed Urfan Sharif, 43, in his cell on New Years’ Day at HMP Belmarsh, South London

Sara Sharif, 10, suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death

This happened just weeks into his 40 year sentence, and although he was in a critical condition, it is understood he has survived the brutal attempt on his life. Pictured HMP Belmarsh 

The source continued: ‘Sharif has tried to keep his head down since coming into the jail, but word quickly got round about who he was.

‘Inmates were not happy he is in there with them and, although the other prisoners are in for heinous crimes, a lot of them don’t like people who attack children.

‘A lot of them are saying how it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.’ 

Other inmates at the high security facility include Grindr Killer Stephen Port, Night Stalker rapist Delroy Grant and Danyal Hussein, who murdered two sisters in a London park. 

A court heard that the 10-year-old schoolgirl suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death by her father Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30.

Mr Justice Cavanagh began his sentencing remarks by describing the degree of cruelty shown towards Sara as ‘inconceivable’, and jailed Sharif to a minimum term of 40 years, Batool to 33 years and Malik to 16 years in prison.

He said Sharif was mainly responsible as Sara’s father while Batool and Malik had not shown any remorse, as he told the court: ‘This poor child was battered with severe force, again and again’ and she was treated as ‘the family servant despite her young age’.

Sharif and Batool were found guilty of murder last month, while her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was convicted of causing or allowing a child’s death.

Sara was injured with a variety of weapons including being scalded with boiling liquid when she was restrained, being beaten with a cricket bat, being hit with a metal pole broken off from a children’s high chair and being burned with an iron.

‘The abuse – which for anyone else would be exceptional – had become normalised for this little girl and you persuaded her that she deserved it,’ the judge said.

Beinash Batool, Faisal Malik and Urfan Sharif are depicted between prison guards

The defendants did not react as the judge sentenced them, and looked down at the floor throughout the proceedings. There were shouts of ‘evil’ and cheers from the public gallery as Sharif was taken down to the cells.

In his sentencing remarks, the judge told Batool ‘you did nothing to protect Sara’ but he could not be sure if she ‘actively participated’ until the end.

He said it was ‘clear Sara was singled out amongst the children for this treatment’.

‘I have no doubt that you both cared much less for Sara because she was not Batool’s natural child. She was treated as a skivvy in the family from a very young age.

‘Neither of you had any concern for the happiness or quality of life for this child. You treated her like she was worthless. The degree of cruelty involved was almost inconceivable.

‘The pretext of homeschooling her was a ruse, to cover up and continue the abuse. At the time she was being subjected to despicable abuse, she was also deprived of an education.

‘She was made to wear a hijab to cover up the bruises which were all over her body.

‘Sara was a brave, feisty and spirited child and she wasn’t as submissive as you wanted her to be. I have no doubt that your ego and sense of self importance was boosted by your power over her.

‘She wasn’t badly behaved. She was a normal child. The beatings started when she was six or seven.’

The judge described how Sara was so terrified by the violence she would throw up or wet herself, before being punished further. 

Speaking to Batool, the judge said: ‘Often when Sharif was at work, you would call him home when you thought Sara was misbehaving to deal with it.’

He said to the father: ‘She would throw up because of this campaign of violence and it is hard to contemplate. You punished her Sharif, because of her physical reaction to your abuse.’

Mr Justice Cavanagh said the house was too small for Sara’s uncle Malik to be unaware of the abuse, saying it was ‘preposterous’ to suggest otherwise. He said Sara’s half-siblings would have also heard their father beat Sara.

A court artist sketch of Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, uncle Faisal Malik and father Urfan Sharif appearing for sentencing

Little Sara had suffered violence for years with a variety of weapons including a baseball bat and a metal pole

Sara was beaten to death by her abusive father in August last year

Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool pictured together before Sara’s torture and death

The judge said rarely had a jury at the Old Bailey had to endure such a case and ‘few [cases] can have been more terrible than the account of the despicable treatment of this poor child’.

He said that Sharif and Batool made her wear a hijab and put makeup on her to cover up her injuries. 

The judge said of Sharif’s confession to the killing mid-way through his trial: ‘Your stated remorse was nothing more than a ploy.’

‘When she died, she had burn marks on her ankles so it was likely she was tied up and boiling water poured on her ankles.

‘This treatment is nothing short of gruesome. It must have been so painful, especially at the hands of her parents.’

He said the evil father was responsible for the small child’s head injuries and the couple ‘jointly inflicted’ the iron injury on her buttocks.

Sara had six bite marks on her body which were carried out by Batool, who was ‘complicit and comfortable’ with the abuse, said the judge.

He said: ‘She was trussed up with masking tape and skipping rope, even worse she was hooded…this treatment of a 10-year-old is nothing short of gruesome.’