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How could we have let Sara down so badly?

(493 Posts)
petal53 Wed 11-Dec-24 16:48:49

I heard on the news this afternoon, and read in the DM about the guilty verdicts in the case of the little girl, Sara Sharif. Reading the details about her treatment, right from birth, brought tears to my eyes. The police, her school, Social Services, and the judiciary all let this child down so badly, it’s scarcely believable. I speak as an ex teacher. This child was at risk from day one, and spent several years in foster care. The school failed to report more than once. Social Services were involved throughout her ten years of life, but frequently failed her during those years. I haven’t got words for the Family Court judge who placed her back with her abusive father. They all knew he was violent and abusive towards women and children, and yet she was placed in his care and left in his care.

We’re all currently appalled at what has been happening in Syria’s prisons, and yet this child was subjected to sickening abuse here in England. The same kind of abuse those prisoners were subjected to. Beaton with a metal pole and a cricket bat, plastic bags tied around her face, bitten, burnt with a hot iron. It’s absolutely heartbreaking. Her father and step mother are guilty, and her uncle guilty of allowing it to happen, but a lot of other people are guilty too. Guilty of failing this beautiful child. I hope they’re all ashamed of the part they played in the events that caused her suffering and eventually her death.

GrannySomerset Wed 11-Dec-24 16:54:04

And I can only imagine the damage done to the other children in the household. Words fail me because we know it will happen again.

Kate1949 Wed 11-Dec-24 16:54:46

It's horrendous. That poor child. The poor jurors. I wish I hadn't read it. There is another (older) thread on this somewhere which may be of interest.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 11-Dec-24 16:55:33

Unfortunately we know that the authorities will trot out their favourite sound bite in cases like this lessons will be learnt

It really is distressing.

MissAdventure Wed 11-Dec-24 16:56:06

I'm at the point where I avoid reading about these cases, because I just can't put them out of my mind.
Just all of it, the mistakes, the lessons learned speeches, the short sentences, all of it.

Just horrific.
R.i.P poor little soul.

Kate1949 Wed 11-Dec-24 16:56:26

It has come out that her father has a history of violence towards women and children which he appears to have got away with.

MissAdventure Wed 11-Dec-24 16:57:53

No surprises there, the scumbag.

petal53 Wed 11-Dec-24 17:04:06

Yes Kate, he has been violent towards more than one woman, over many years, and the authorities were aware. Other children have complained about him, just named as a child in the DM to protect their privacy.
He was nasty, cruel brute. A vile individual. I hope he never gets out of prison.

Kate1949 Wed 11-Dec-24 17:05:29

It's so awful.

petal53 Wed 11-Dec-24 17:06:50

Sara’s Polish mother was interviewed on television, can’t remember which channel, when he was first arrested. She said on television how violent he was towards her, which is why she left him. No doubt his history of violence was why Sara was considered at risk from the day of her birth.

MissAdventure Wed 11-Dec-24 17:08:23

How can a child known to be at risk end up so injured, and suffer so much???

Heidithecat Wed 11-Dec-24 17:09:08

Lessons have not been learned, as this keeps happening again and again.
I hope they rot in jail for the rest of their lives, because it is what they deserve.

Gingster Wed 11-Dec-24 17:09:34

Every time this happens , they say we can’t let this happen again, and yet it goes on and on. It’s unbearable!

Someone close to our family has spent a year training to be a foster parent and time after time the final ‘panel’ has cancelled because of ill health. I think of all those children who are in need of this kind, intelligent , caring man and would have a loving, safe and secure home with him. Whats wrong with our social services. !!!!!

petal53 Wed 11-Dec-24 17:10:13

I know I had nothing to do with this, but I actually feel guilty because all the services let her down. Services that I was a part of when I was teaching. I had to refer to Social Services on several occasions. That the school, Social Services, the police, and finally the Family Court judge all let her down so badly has really upset me.

petra Wed 11-Dec-24 17:10:24

petal53

Sara’s Polish mother was interviewed on television, can’t remember which channel, when he was first arrested. She said on television how violent he was towards her, which is why she left him. No doubt his history of violence was why Sara was considered at risk from the day of her birth.

But he was still given custody of her 😡

petal53 Wed 11-Dec-24 17:11:56

It’s unbearable.

Yes it is. Absolutely unbearable.

TerriBull Wed 11-Dec-24 17:12:43

I read he was violent towards her mother. How did he manage to get custody I wonder, how awful that he did.

Such a heartbreaking account.

Aveline Wed 11-Dec-24 17:16:53

It's such a preventable tragedy yet it wasn't prevented. That poor wee girl. I can't bear to think of what she suffered.
What must the other children have seen and heard. They're still in Pakistan? I hope they're with kind people

Grandma70s Wed 11-Dec-24 17:17:47

MissAdventure

I'm at the point where I avoid reading about these cases, because I just can't put them out of my mind.
Just all of it, the mistakes, the lessons learned speeches, the short sentences, all of it.

Just horrific.
R.i.P poor little soul.

I’m braver about reading about them than I was when younger. I used to avoid it altogether - I never read about the Moors Murders, for example.

The case of Sara is beyond belief. I only know what has been said on the BBC news, and that is quite enough

Smileless2012 Wed 11-Dec-24 17:20:21

You posted exactly what I was going to say Heidithecat and when they die, I hope there's a special place in hell for them too.

rafichagran Wed 11-Dec-24 17:22:13

Lessons will be learnt
How many times will this line be trotted out? Its like a very bad joke, and laughable if it were not used in tragic cases.
When will these lessons be learnt.

Nonnato2 Wed 11-Dec-24 17:23:08

Poor little girl. Those parents are monsters and i hope they rot in hell.

Another child let down - again and again and again. Heartbreaking.

Jeanathome Wed 11-Dec-24 17:23:13

The neighbours have something to answer for in my opinion.

shoppinggirl Wed 11-Dec-24 17:23:21

That poor little child. She was tortured again and again and had no-one to turn to. My heart hurts for her unbelievable suffering. I hope she's in a kinder, more loving place. RIP little poppet flowers

Cossy Wed 11-Dec-24 17:30:24

MissAdventure

I'm at the point where I avoid reading about these cases, because I just can't put them out of my mind.
Just all of it, the mistakes, the lessons learned speeches, the short sentences, all of it.

Just horrific.
R.i.P poor little soul.

I completely agree!

Despicable, horrific people, all those who “allowed” this to carry on the whole of this innocent little girl’s life.

RIP little one flowers