Two men charged with attempted murder of Sara Sharif's killer father

Two men have been charged with the attempted murder of Urfan Sharif while he is in prison for the murder of his daughter, Sara.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced the charges against Steven Sansom and Adam Watson following an incident at Belmarsh Prison in London.

The incident involves Sharif, who is serving a life sentence at the Category A prison in Thamesmead, according the Press Association.

Daren Streeter, deputy chief crown prosecutor with CPS London, said the decision had been made "to charge Steven Sansom and Adam Watson with attempted murder in connection with an incident at HMP Belmarsh in January 2025".

He added: "Our prosecutors have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and pursue criminal proceedings."

Sky News reported at the time of the alleged offence that Sharif was understood to have suffered slashes to his face and body, requiring stitches.

In December 2024, Sharif was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 40 years for murdering 10-year-old Sara after years of abuse.

The court heard that she suffered "unimaginable pain, misery and anxiety" as she was repeatedly beaten, burned, bitten, and restrained at the family home in Woking, Surrey.

In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey on 17 December 2024, Mr Justice Cavanagh said Sara's death "was the culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as torture", mainly at the hands of Sharif.

See more from Sky News:
Farage inquiry reopened after Clacton by-election win
'Stay away', residents told after house fires
Lewes train passenger feels 'incredibly lucky to be alive'

The senior judge said that Sara's "despicable treatment" took place in "plain sight and in front of the rest of the family".

He told Sharif: "You treated her in such a way because you considered it your right to impose harsh discipline on her.

"Sara was a brave, feisty and spirited child. She was not submissive as you wanted her to be. She stood up to you."

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

(c) Sky News 2026: Two men charged with attempted murder of Sara Sharif's killer father