'Serious failings' in system led to Sara's horrific death

Review finds 10-year-old's father Urfan Sharif's history of domestic abuse was 'overlooked and underestimated' by all professionals who came into contact with the Surrey family

- HOLLY EVANS

Sara Sharif’s abusive father and stepmother “should never have been trusted” with her care, according to a damning review that also found she was failed by the safeguarding system.

The 10-year-old was found dead in a bunk bed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023, after enduring months of horrific abuse at the hands of Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool.

A report published by Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership found that Sharif’s history as an abuser had been overlooked and underestimated, and that despite there being a “great deal of information available” to authorities, numerous opportunities to intervene were missed.

These included a home visit that was supposed to take place on the day before Sara was murdered, but council staff attended the wrong address.

“There are clearly several points in Sara’s life, in particular during the last few months, where different actions could and should have been taken and the system failed to keep her safe,” the 62-page report found.

Downing Street said Sara’s death was “heartbreaking” and that a review into her case had exposed “serious failings” which ministers would consider.

Sara was found to have suffered 71 recent injuries at the time of her death, including 25 broken bones, iron burns on her bottom, scalding marks to her feet, and human bites.

Sharif was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison last December, while Batool was jailed for a minimum of 33 years, for the couple’s “sadistic” crimes. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and was jailed for 16 years.

Sara, who was described as a courageous and cheerful child, had been known to social services, with concerns first raised within a week of her birth in 2013. Her parents had been known to social services since 2010.