Two men, Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, have been charged with attempted murder following an attack on Urfan Sharif, the father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, inside HMP Belmarsh on New Year's Day 2025. Sharif, who was sentenced to life in prison for his daughter's killing, was allegedly ambushed in his cell by the two inmates armed with a jagged tuna can lid.
Sharif sustained critical injuries after his throat was slashed during the attack and required hospitalization. Prison officials attempted to protect him due to his high-profile case, but a prison source indicated that an attack was likely only a matter of time. The source also suggested that other inmates were displeased with Sharif's presence due to the nature of his crime.
Sansom, a former builder, is serving a whole-life tariff for murder and perverting the course of justice, having killed Sarah Mayhew and disposed of her remains. Watson was sentenced to 21 years in 2024 for the murder of Samantha Holden. Both men have been charged with attempted murder and Section 18 offenses.
They are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a hearing on August 26, 2026. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges, emphasizing that proceedings are active and the defendants are entitled to a fair trial.
Urfan Sharif and his former partner, Beinash Batool, were convicted for the abuse and torture of Sara Sharif, who died after suffering 'unimaginable pain' over more than two years. Sara was subjected to severe physical abuse, including being beaten with various objects, strangled, burned, and bitten. Sharif received a minimum sentence of 40 years, Batool 33 years, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 16 years.
HMP Belmarsh is a high-security prison in south-east London known for housing dangerous offenders, including terrorists. The prison recorded 226 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in the year to June 2025, an 11% increase from the previous year. As of March 2025, it held 694 inmates, with a significant portion being high-risk sentenced individuals.