Women praised for "immense courage" after helping to bring Sheffield attacker to justice
“Both victims sustained significant injuries as a result of his unprovoked and sexually-motivated attacks”
Two women have been praised for their “immense courage” after they helped to bring a Sheffield man responsible for three street attacks to justice.
Matthew Ward, aged 21, was freed from a prison a matter of weeks before he attacked two women enjoying a night out in Sheffield, in separate attacks hours apart.
He punched one woman, leaving her with a bloody nose, after appearing to try and solicit sex from her and her friend.
Around three hours later, Ward followed a second woman called Emily as she walked home alone, before launching into an attack that left her so beaten and bloody her parents initially thought she had been left brain dead.
Ward had been jailed for an eerily similar assault on a lone women he did not know, during which he pinned her to the ground and suffocated her. He received a 22-month jail sentence for that attack in May 2025.
Ward, of Duke Street, Park Hill, Sheffield, carried out the most recent attacks less than 11 months later in April 2026, and received a 30-month sentence last month after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
Emily spoke out about the attack, which has left her with scars to her face, arm and leg, earlier this week.
Now, police and prosecutors have praised Emily and the other woman targeted by Ward for their bravery in coming forward.
Sheffield City Centre Sergeant Simon Pickering said: “We recognise the immense courage shown by victims and survivors of violence against women and girls and commend the support the victims in this case gave to us, to ensure Ward was put in prison.
“Tackling violence against women and girls remains a priority for us and we are committed to preventing offending, pursuing perpetrators and providing support to those affected.
“We continue to work closely with partners, business owners and communities to improve trust, increase reporting and ensure victims receive the service and support they deserve.
“I continue to urge women to speak to us, every report helps us to better understand the harm being caused and supports our efforts to bring offenders to justice.”
Senior Crown Prosecutor Nathan Hudson added: “Matthew Ward violently assaulted two women he did not know as they were simply enjoying nights out with friends.
“Both victims sustained significant injuries as a result of his unprovoked and sexually-motivated attacks.
“Ward was charged immediately by the CPS and we secured guilty pleas that saw him sentenced to prison within a month of the assaults. I commend the bravery of the victims in coming forward and hope they can inspire others to do the same.
"Violence like this has no place on our streets and the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible for making women feel unsafe."