Manhunt Underway for Father Who Assaulted Funeral Celebrant
Gye Worthy, father of a teenager killed in a fatal crash, faces arrest after failing to appear in court for assaulting a celebrant at his son's funeral.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Gye Worthy, 40, the father of a teenager who died in the A66 Middlesbrough crash, after he assaulted a celebrant at his son's funeral and subsequently failed to appear in court.
Worthy allegedly attacked Paul Maull, 46, during the memorial service for his 17-year-old son, Cole, who was one of five young men killed when their car collided head-on with a police vehicle. The crash also resulted in the deaths of two police officers.
The incident at Teesside Crematorium reportedly occurred when Worthy became enraged because the celebrant had not mentioned his name quickly enough in the eulogy for Cole. Witnesses stated that Worthy grabbed Maull, threatened him, and resisted police officers who were called to the scene on September 9.
He had previously pleaded guilty to assault, resisting arrest, and a separate charge of theft. Worthy was due to be sentenced at Teesside Magistrates' Court but failed to appear. This follows a previous instance where a warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday for failing to appear in court on separate allegations of shoplifting and possessing drugs.
District Judge Julia Baggs issued the latest warrant, specifying that 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 and he had not provided any explanation for his absence.
Cole Worthy and his four associates were reportedly on a mission of revenge on August 22 after Worthy's home was among three properties targeted in a suspected gangland feud. The pursuit of those believed to be responsible led to the fatal crash.
PC Tom Clough, 38, and his Cleveland Police colleague PC Matthew Blades, 37, were killed when their response vehicle was struck by a car traveling the wrong way on the A66. The occupants of the car, Cole Worthy, Jakub Matusiak, 23; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18, and Michael Cahill, 23, were all pronounced dead at the scene.
PC Clough had served in the British Army before joining British Transport Police and then Cleveland Police. His family described him as "our hero." PC Blades, a married father of two, had been an English teacher before joining the police force and was a volunteer youth coach. His wife called him "my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father."