Man, 39, charged with assault after disorder at funeral of A66 crash victim

A 39-year-old man has been charged with assault after disorder broke out at a funeral held for one of the young men killed in a head-on collision with police on the A66.

Gye Worthy was arrested on Wednesday and has been charged with common assault, a public order offence and obstructing police, Cleveland Police said.

The force responded to reports of a disturbance at the Teesside Crematorium service for 17-year-old Cole Worthy, who was one of five young men killed along with two officers in Middlesbrough last month.

After arresting the man, the service resumed and officers stayed in the area to provide reassurance.

Mr Worthy is due to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on 2 October.

The funeral was held on the same day as that of Pc Matthew Blades, 37, who died alongside Pc Matthew Blades, 37, after the police vehicle they were driving was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling on the wrong side of the A66 in Teesside.

Hundreds of police officers gathered to line the street for the funeral and standard bearers from every UK force attended the service.

The five young men who died were Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and Mr Worthy, 17.

Schools closed early for the previous funerals of some of the other young men, but remained open during the ceremony for Mr Worthy.

In a statement, Cleveland Police said: “The 39-year-old man arrested yesterday (Wednesday 9 September) at Teesside Crematorium, following a disturbance during a service, has now been charged with common assault, public order and obstructing police. He is due to appear before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on 2nd October.”