BEATEN, BURNED, BITTEN BY HER FAMILY

Dad's two years of sickening abuse | But chances to save her missed

- TOM PETTIFOR

WITH her warm smile, cheerful personality and love of singing, little Sara Sharif melted the hearts of those who met her.

But the sunny outlook masked a horrific childhood at the hands of her brutal father Urfan Sharif and stepmum Beinash Batool that was peppered with beatings and abuse over at least two years.

The sickening attacks ended with her murder at the age of 10 And the authorities missed a string of chances to save the tragic child, as she was handed back to the couple after brief spells in care despite at least 15 warnings about her dad's violence.

Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza demanded tougher action to protect youngsters from abuse and insisted we cannot keep on saying "never again" after yet another potentially preventable death.

Sharif, 42, and 30-year-old Batool, who fled to Pakistan after Sara's death, were found guilty of her murder. His brother Faisal Malik, 29, was convicted of causing or allowing her death.

Sara was found dead on a bed in her home in Woking, Surrey, with at least 71 external injuries, 10 spinal fractures, burns from an iron on her buttocks and six human bite marks on her body.

ANGELIC

Plastic bags bound with packaging tape were used as a hood on the terrified child and she had to wear a nappy when tied up.

After the guilty verdicts at the Old Bailey, Sara's mum Olga Domin and the head of her school paid emotional tributes to her.

Olga said: "My dear Sara, I ask God to please take care of my little girl, she was taken too soon.