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The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised formal charges against two prisoners following an alleged knife and physical assault on Urfan Sharif inside the high-security confines of HM Prison Belmarsh. Steven Sansom, aged 47, and Adam Watson, aged 39, have each been charged with attempted murder in connection with the incident that occurred on 1 January 2025. Both defendants are scheduled to make their first official appearance regarding the charges at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 26 August 2026.
Sharif, 43, is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years after being convicted alongside his wife Beinash Batool at the Old Bailey for the murder of his ten-year-old daughter, Sara Sharif. The fatal abuse occurred at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023, after which Sharif, Batool, and Sara's uncle Faisal Malik fled the United Kingdom for Pakistan before being apprehended upon their return several weeks later.
Legal authorities moved forward with formal charges following an extensive inquiry conducted by the Metropolitan Police into the assault inside the Category-A correctional facility in south-east London. Sharif sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the altercation and received medical treatment before being returned to custody under heightened monitoring protocols.
Daren Streeter, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, confirmed the development, noting that prosecutors worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to establish that sufficient evidence exists to pursue criminal proceedings in court. Legal representatives speaking to journalists emphasised that active criminal proceedings are now underway, meaning strict legal protections apply regarding commentary that could prejudice the forthcoming court appearances.
The assault charges bring renewed focus to one of the most widely scrutinised child protection cases in recent British legal history. During the late 2024 trial at the Central Criminal Court, jurors heard exhaustive medical evidence detailing how ten-year-old Sara was subjected to prolonged physical abuse, extensive beatings, and severe injuries over several months leading to her death.
Alongside Sharif's 40-year minimum term, Sara's stepmother, Beinash Batool, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 33 years. Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment after being convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child. The Court of Appeal subsequently reviewed the sentencing structure following submissions from the Attorney General’s Office regarding whether whole-life orders should have applied to the primary perpetrators.
The Ministry of Justice and the Prison Service have maintained tight oversight of all individuals involved in the trial due to the heightened risk of prisoner retribution within high-security facilities. HM Prison Belmarsh, which houses many of the country's most notorious offenders, regularly manages complex internal security separations to safeguard vulnerable or targeted inmates awaiting trial or serving long-term tariffs.
The case against Sansom and Watson will formally open at Westminster Magistrates' Court before being transferred to the Crown Court for plea hearings and subsequent trial scheduling. The court will examine the full circumstances surrounding how the confrontation took place within the prison estate and the degree of premeditation involved in the alleged attempt on Sharif's life.
