VIDEO: South Yorkshire detectives hope new lead will identify killer

Tommy Ward, aged 80, suffered a smashed skull, broken ribs and fractured jaw in an attack in his home in Salisbury Road, Maltby, Rotherham, in which his £30,000 life savings were stolen.

He was attacked on October 1, 2015 and died four months later, with today marking the first anniversary of his death.

To coincide with the anniversary, detectives have revealed that they are following up a 'significant' new lead following the discovery of CCTV footage of a car which pulled up onto Tommy's street around the time they believe he was attacked.

The car - a Saab 93 - pulled onto the street at 5.15am and is then later seen doing a U-turn and driving off.

There is a 25 minute period for which the car is unaccounted for.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Short said: "Over the last few days there has been a significant development and we now have CCTV footage of a vehicle which drives up Salisbury Road, does a U-turn and which we believe was stationary near to Tommy's house for 25 minutes before it drives off.

"We need to eliminate it from our enquiries and find out who owns and drives that vehicle."

She said detectives have worked on the case all year and are determined to identify the killer.

"Many of the officers working on this case have been on it from the start and they are very passionate about it and still working long hours," she said.

"They want to find out who did this to get justice for Tommy and closure for his family.

"It was an horrendous attack, such a severe attack on an elderly man - so unnecessary, so pointless.

"Tommy suffered for a number of months before he died without being able to communicate with his family. It's so sad and we just want to find out who did this and send them to prison."

DCI Short said she wants to hear from people suspicious about others who may suddenly appear to have acquired money and splashed out on items.

"The money has gone somewhere and we can quickly eliminate people from our enquiries," she said.

Four men arrested on suspicion of murder over the last year have all been released without charge.

An appeal for information on the killer will be made on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Sunday.

Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.