GRAPHIC IMAGE: South Yorkshire Police hunt for killer continues

The killer of an elderly man brutally attacked and robbed of his life savings in his home remains at large five years later.

By Claire Lewis

Published 25th Sep 2020, 09:27 BST

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Tommy Ward, aged 80, was attacked in his home in Salisbury Street, Maltby, Rotherham, on October 1, 2015.

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The former soldier and miner never recovered and died in hospital four months later.

Tommy Ward was brutally attacked in his home and later died

Tommy Ward was brutally attacked in his home and later died

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Mr Ward suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs and broken jaw and his £30,000 life savings were stolen.

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Earlier in the police probe, a £10,000 Crimestoppers reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer, but to date, nobody has yet been charged.

Tommy Ward

Tommy Ward

Mr Ward was left unable to communicate with his family again after his attack.

His life savings, which he kept at home, was taken and the cash was never recovered.

An identical safe to his which was stolen was recovered from the canal in Kilnhurst, Rotherham, a short time later.

South Yorkshire Police described the murder as ‘horrendous,’ ‘so unnecessary’ and ‘so pointless’ at the time.

It is one of a number of unsolved murders on South Yorkshire Police’s books but the force has a major incident review team, whose remit is to review and re-investigate unsolved murders, rapes and sexual assaults in the hope of securing justice for victims and families.

Cases are regularly re-assessed to look for new lines of enquiry or forensic opportunities.

Anyone with information about the murder should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Quote incident number 408 of October 1, 2015.

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