Killer who viciously beat and robbed South Yorkshire miner, 80, of life savings still at large 11 years later
Tommy Ward, who weighed nine stone when he was set upon, died five months after the brutal attack
A killer who robbed an 80-year-old South Yorkshire former miner of his life savings before leaving him with a smashed skull, broken ribs and a fractured jaw still remains at large over a decade since the awful crime.
The brutal burglar made off with a safe containing the OAP’s £30,000 savings after the violent assault - which took place at ex-soldier Tommy Ward’s home on Salisbury Road, Maltby, October 1, 2015.
.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
Tommy, who weighed nine stone when he was set upon, died five months after the brutal attack - of injuries that were so bad he was never able to tell police anything about his assailant.
Despite a £10,000 Crimewatch appeal the hunt for the callous killer who cost Tommy his life continues - nearly 11 years since the attack.
Speaking in November 2015, around a month after the attack and before Tommy died from his injuries, his daughter Jackie Perry said: “They are animals.
“They’ve walked away and shut that door knowing how seriously ill my dad was and they left him for dead, for the sake of money.”
On October 6, 2015, around five days after the attack, an empty safe, believed to Tommy’s, was found by a dog walker next to the canal at the back of a recycling plant, off Wharf Road, in Kilnhurst, Rotherham.
Tommy was still fighting for his life in hospital at that point. Kind-hearted members of the public donated more than £30,000 to replace Mr Ward’s lost life savings in an online appeal during the weeks followed.
Detective Inspector Richard Partridge, who was leading the investigation at the time said in a statement at the time he “firmly” believed someone in the local community knew what had happened.
He said: “I know there will be people in Maltby with suspicions around who is responsible.
“What happened to Mr Ward was a brutal attack on a vulnerable man in his own home and those responsible do not deserve to be shielded by anyone.”
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) issued their most recent update on the investigation in August 2024, when the force confirmed a 36-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of Tommy’s murder.
.jpg?trim=0,0,0,0&crop=&width=640&quality=65)
However no charges were brought brought against the woman - or anyone else arrested in connection with Tommy’s killing.
Aside from the woman arrested in 2024, police have made a number of other arrests over the years.
Five people, including two 19-year-old men and a 23-year-old arrested a short time after the attack on suspicion of offences including attempted murder and burglary, have all been released with no further action taken.