Manhunt Underway for Father Who Assaulted Celebrant at Son's Funeral

An arrest warrant has been issued for Gye Worthy, 40, the father of a teenager killed in a fatal crash on the A66 in Middlesbrough. Worthy failed to appear in court for sentencing after assaulting a celebrant at his son Cole's funeral.

Worthy reportedly became enraged at Teesside Crematorium when he felt the celebrant, Paul Maull, 46, was not mentioning his 17-year-old son, Cole, quickly enough during the eulogy. Witnesses stated Worthy grabbed Maull, dragged him, and threatened him with violence in front of mourners on September 9.

He had previously pleaded guilty to assault, resisting arrest, and a separate charge of theft of four bottles of wine. A warrant was already outstanding for his arrest from a prior court appearance where he failed to appear on charges of shoplifting and possessing drugs.

District Judge Julia Baggs issued the warrant, specifying it was "not backed for bail," meaning Worthy is to be held in police custody until he can be brought before the court. The judge noted that Worthy's solicitors had not received any communication from him, nor had he contacted the court to explain his absence.

Cole Worthy and four associates died on August 22 when their car collided head-on with a police vehicle on the A66. Two police officers, PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, were also killed in the incident. Authorities suspect the crash was linked to organized crime, with the five young men reportedly engaged in a revenge mission after Worthy's home and another property were targeted in suspected gangland attacks earlier that day.

The pursuit of the car carrying Cole Worthy and his friends lasted nearly seven minutes before the vehicle entered the A66 traveling the wrong way, allegedly in an attempt to evade police. Ten seconds later, it collided with the marked police car carrying PCs Clough and Blades. The incident has been attributed to a drug supply turf war in the Teesside area.

PC Clough, a former British Army soldier, was an armed response officer with Cleveland Police. His family remembered him as a hero dedicated to public service. PC Blades, a married father of two, had a background as an English teacher and was a youth football coach. His wife described him as her beloved husband, best friend, and a devoted father.