Two Men Charged With Attempted Murder of Urfan Sharif in Prison Attack

Two men have been charged with the attempted murder of Urfan Sharif, the father of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif, following an attack at HMP Belmarsh on New Year's Day 2025. Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, are accused of ambushing Sharif in his cell at the high-security prison in southeast London, where he was allegedly cut with a makeshift weapon fashioned from the lid of a tuna tin. The Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges on August 14, 2026, stating the pair will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a first hearing on August 26, 2026.

The incident occurred on January 1, 2025, just weeks after Sharif was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 40 years for the torture and murder of his 10-year-old daughter, Sara. According to reports, Sharif suffered cuts to his neck and face and received medical treatment inside the prison. The Metropolitan Police previously confirmed they were investigating an allegation that a prisoner was assaulted, adding that the 43-year-old victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. A prison source described the attack as planned, stating Sharif was "sliced up badly" and was "lucky to survive."