Orfan Sharif, 43, was brutally attacked by fellow prisoners at HMP Belmarsh prison in south London just weeks after he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah Sharif. Using the sharp edge of a tuna can lid, two prisoners ambushed Sharif in his cell on New Year’s Day, slitting his throat in a shocking act of prison justice.
Sharif’s crimes, which included subjecting his daughter to horrific abuse before her tragic death, were reportedly the motive behind the violent assault. Sarah endured a horrific ordeal of being hooded, bitten and burned before succumbing to fatal injuries, sparking widespread outrage. Despite his serious injury, Sharif is believed to have survived the attack.
The attack on Sharif in prison
The two prisoners were allegedly driven to violence by Irfan Sharif’s horrific abuse of a 10-year-old girl. The child endured an unimaginably cruel campaign, including having his head covered, bitten and burned, before eventually succumbing to fatal injuries.
Her body, bearing the scars of at least 71 injuries, was found at the family home in Woking, Surrey, last year. Authorities are investigating a violent assault that occurred in Belmarsh on New Year’s Day. The Prison Service and the Metropolitan Police are working together to collect evidence and arrest those responsible.
A prison service spokesman said: “It would be inappropriate to comment further during the investigation.” Scotland Yard confirmed that officers were investigating an allegation of an assault on a prisoner in Belmarsh. The 43-year-old inmate suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.
What happened inside the cell?
Reports indicated that the killer suffered lacerations in his neck and face, which required immediate medical attention inside the prison, according to reports. Mail Online. A prison source said: “Orvan was badly dismembered in his cell by two others who rushed in. It was planned, and they used a makeshift weapon – made from the lid of a tuna can.”
He suffered injuries to his neck and face and is still in healthcare in a very bad way. He was lucky to survive, had to have stitches and will have scars as a permanent reminder of the attack.
“The guards tried to keep him safe because he clearly had a target on his back after the case was such big news. Something like this was always a possibility, and perhaps an attack was only a matter of time.”
Sharif has tried to keep his head down since entering prison, but word quickly spread about his identity. The prisoners were not happy to have him around, and although other prisoners were accused of heinous crimes, many of them did not like people who attacked children. Many of them say how this could not have happened to a more deserving man.
HMP Belmarsh houses some of the UK’s most notorious criminals, including Stephen Port (aka the Grindr Killer), who was convicted of murdering four young men he met on a dating app. Other prisoners at the maximum security facility include Delroy Grant, nicknamed the “Night Stalker” – a serial thief and rapist who terrorized south London for 17 years.
Another prisoner, Daniyal Hussein, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of two teenage sisters in a London park.
Sarah Sharif’s suffering
The court heard during the trial that the 10-year-old schoolgirl endured unimaginable suffering over two years of horrific abuse, and eventually succumbed to torture inflicted on her by her father, Irfan Sharif, 43, and her stepmother, Binaash Batool, 30.
At the start of sentencing, Judge Kavanagh condemned the “unimaginable” cruelty to which Sarah was subjected. He imposed a minimum prison sentence of 40 years on Sharif, 33 years on Batoul, and 16 years on Malik for their role in the child’s tragic death.
This story of Sarah Sharif is horrifying and disgusting. She was failed by her despicable family, failed by the horrific system, and failed by everyone who should have protected her. Poor little girl. Rest in peace Sarah 💔 pic.twitter.com/YrbVhZmqaW
– Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 12, 2024
Judge Kavanagh stressed Sharif’s primary responsibility as Sarah’s father, while also condemning the lack of remorse shown by Batoul and Malik. He painted a horrific picture of Sarah’s suffering, saying: “This poor child was beaten with extreme force over and over again,” and she was treated as “the family’s servant despite her young age.”
Sharif and Batoul were convicted of murder last month, while her uncle Faisal Malik (29 years old) was convicted of the less serious charge of causing or allowing the death of a child. The court heard that Sarah suffered a horrific list of injuries.
She was scalded by boiling liquid while being restrained. She was beaten with a cricket bat and hit with a broken metal pole from a children’s high chair. She also suffered burns from a hot iron.
The judge said: “The abuse – which would be exceptional to anyone else – had become normal for this little girl, and I had convinced her that she deserved it.” Sarah now rests in peace in a grave bearing her mother’s family name, decorated with a daily offering of fresh flowers from her grieving mother, Olga.