Sheffield student and assault victim calls for reconsideration on prisoner early release plans

A Sheffield student who was the victim of assault has called on the government to reconsider plans to release more prisoners early.

Earlier this year, Emily, a 21-year-old student, was approached and attacked in Sheffield when walking home alone on a Friday night.

It was later revealed the attacker was an offender, Matthew Ward of Wilfred Drive, Darnall, who had been released from prison early. 

“After the police reviewed the footage and had seen what had happened, the story just unravelled and they recognised him straight away because he had just been released from prison,” Emily said. 

Matthew Ward was charged with intentional suffocation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2025 at Nottingham Crown Court.

After pleading guilty, he was charged with 22 months in a young offenders institution. 

Ward was released after serving 11 months, half of his intended sentence and committed his second assault just days after release. 

He was later charged with Actual Bodily Harm for his attack on Emily, and was sentenced with 30 months at Sheffield Crown Court. 

A 10 year restraining order has also been put in place.

Emily has called on the government to reconsider the process that prisoners may be released early under. 

“Some of these people just simply aren’t safe to be released and that’s proven in what’s just happened,” she argued. 

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Planned changes to the prison system by the government mean thousands of offenders could be released before serving their entire sentence. 

Prisons across England and Wales hold 86,495 offenders, which is 97 per cent of all prisons capacity. 

Many prisoners also face longer sentences, meaning more people are being held in prison at any one time. 

This follows a 2024 early release scheme when prisons almost reached full capacity, with 38,042 prisoners released between September 2024 to June 2025. 

In an attempt to stop this, the Sentencing Act 2026 was passed in January, meaning offenders serving standard fixed sentences, who were due to be released after half of their term, could leave jail after serving a third. 

A statement released by the government has said offenders will face tough new surveillance after leaving prison. It has been suggested that all offenders will be tagged, with tougher periods of supervision. 

Restriction zones for offenders have also been discussed. 

The Ministry for Justice has been contacted for comment.

If you have been affected by the contents of this article, Sheffield students can call Sheffield Support Hub on 07890 987 384 Monday to Friday (6pm – midnight) and Saturday and Sunday (2pm – midnight).

Alternatively, you can contact the Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123, or contact Shout, a 24/7 text messaging service, by texting the word “Shout” to 85258.

Featured image via Google Maps