Sara Sharif: Social care boss whose team failed girl awarded OBE in King's Birthday Honours

Sara Sharif was brutally beaten by her father and stepmother, who fled the country for Pakistan after her death, leaving Surrey Police to find her body alone in the family house

A social care boss whose team repeatedly failed to protect Sara Sharif was awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Rachel Wardell, who heads up Children’s Services at Surrey County Council, knew Sara, 10, was at risk in March 2023 when her school flagged bruises on her face. But six days later, the case was closed due to a lack of evidence.

That April, Sara’s dad Urfan Sharif withdrew her from school. And months later she was dead. Despite this, Wardell was recognised for her services to children’s social care in the King’s Birthday Honours list earlier this year.

Speaking after the gong was awarded, Surrey County Council’s Interim Chief Executive Michael Coughlin said: “On behalf of everyone at Surrey County Council, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Rachael. Her exceptional leadership and dedication to public service throughout her career has been unwavering.

“Rachael has played a critical role in the lives of children in a number of Councils, including at Surrey, which has been recognised in the award of this thoroughly deserved OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.”

A report published the year before Sara's death investigated the failures of social services in Solihull and Bradford to protect Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died aged 7, and one-year-old Star Hobson.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, a jury found Sharif, 42, and Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, guilty of her murder. Sara died in August 2023.

Surrey Police said Sara suffered "unspeakable violence" and "brutal abuse" at the hands of her father and Batool. Her uncle Faisal Malik was found not guilty of murder but guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Specialist doctors and pathologists who examined little Sara's body found evidence of about 100 separate internal and external injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones as well as extensive bruising and scarring. There was also evidence of burns, including one of the girl's buttocks which had been intentionally inflicted using a domestic iron as well as human bite marks.

A post-mortem found Sara's cause of death was complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect. Her body was found at her family home in Hammond Road, Woking, after he father called police and told them he had killed his daughter and left her before he, Batool and Malik fled to Pakistan.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman from the Surry Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, which led the investigation, said: "Today, after a ten-week trial, a jury has found the father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif guilty of her murder. Her uncle was found guilty of causing or allowing her death.

"Sara was a bright and lively little girl who loved singing and dancing, and on behalf of Surrey Police, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her mother, Olga, her siblings, and all those who knew and cared for her.

"Sara’s spirit, bravery and resilience in the face of the abuse she suffered has shone through from the vast enquiries that have been undertaken in this case. Sara’s young life was brought to an end as a result of the brutal abuse inflicted on her by her father and stepmother, which her uncle did nothing to prevent.

"This case has shocked and horrified not only those who knew and loved her, but people across the country and around the world."