Tommy Ward murder: Killer still free as South Yorkshire Police fail to crack case

Heartbroken relatives of an elderly man who died after he was brutally attacked in a robbery in his own home have endured another year of agony.
By Claire Lewis
Published 17th Oct 2021, 08:41 GMT
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Tommy Ward, aged 80, was beaten for his life savings and left for dead on October 1, 2015.

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The OAP was targeted in his home in Salisbury Street, Maltby, Rotherham, and was left with a fractured skull, broken ribs and broken jaw.

Tommy Ward, aged 80, was the victim of a brutal robbery in his own homeTommy Ward, aged 80, was the victim of a brutal robbery in his own home
Tommy Ward, aged 80, was the victim of a brutal robbery in his own home
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His £30,000 life savings were also stolen during the violent raid, which shocked Tommy’s local community.

An identical safe to Tommy’s was recovered from the canal in Kilnhurst, Rotherham, a short time after the robbery.

The much loved former soldier and miner never recovered from his ordeal and died in hospital four months later.

Despite a £10,000 Crimestoppers reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer, nobody has yet been charged.

Nobody has yet been charged with the murder of 80-year-old Tommy WardNobody has yet been charged with the murder of 80-year-old Tommy Ward
Nobody has yet been charged with the murder of 80-year-old Tommy Ward

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DCI Vicky Short, of South Yorkshire Police, previously described the murder as ‘horrendous, so unnecessary and so pointless’.

On the first anniversary of the murder, she said: “It's so sad and we just want to find out who did this and send them to prison.”

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 Tommy’s murder should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.