Father of teenager, 17, killed in A66 Middlesbrough crash faces jail today after attacking celebrant at his own son’s funeral

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER and KEVIN DONALD, JOURNALIST 01:37 02 Oct 2026, updated 09:49 02 Oct 2026

The father of one of the teenagers killed in the A66 Middlesbrough crash faces prison after attacking the celebrant at his son’s funeral.

Gye Worthy is alleged to have become angered when Paul Maull failed to mention him in a eulogy for 17-year-old Cole – but did not forget the teenager’s stepfather.

Worthy, 40, is accused of shouting insults before assaulting the celebrant and obstructing police officers called to deal with the disturbance at Teesside Crematorium on September 9.

He was due to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today.

Cole’s mother Natalie McConnell was ‘devastated and shocked’ by the disruption to her son’s memorial, a source close to the family said.

Ms McConnell has long been separated from Worthy and both now have new partners.

Worthy, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, is the boss of his own specialist lifting company, which operates on offshore platforms.

His semi-detached £200,000 home recently suffered serious damage in a criminal act currently under investigation by Cleveland Police.

Cole was then killed within minutes of his father’s home being attacked, alongside Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Cahill, 23, and Theo Rae, 17.

Police said all five had links to organised crime and had been trying to flee police in a VW Passat when they drove the wrong way up the A66 into a police vehicle.

Two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed in the crash on Saturday, August 22.

The incident was blamed on a tit-for-tat gangland turf war over the supply of drugs on Teesside.

There is no suggestion Worthy is linked to organised crime.

Cleveland Police said previously that Worthy had been charged with common assault, public order and obstructing police.

Worthy has pleaded guilty to attacking Mr Maull, 46, dragging him by his clothes while issuing threats of violence and then resisting police officers called to arrest him.

A source close to the Worthy family said: ‘It was a shocking moment – it left the whole funeral in a state of shock.

‘The problem seemed to be that the celebrant had not spoken Gye’s name in his address soon enough for him.

‘Other family members had been mentioned but he hadn’t and he was furious and attacked the poor man leading the service.

‘The worst thing about it is that he made a day that should have been about his son into a day that was all about him. It was appalling.’

Worthy appeared before Teesside magistrates in an unscheduled hearing on September 26 and admitted three charges.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Maull by beating him on September 9 in St Bede’s Chapel at Acklam Crematorium in Middlesbrough.

Worthy further admitted using threatening abusive or insulting words and behaviour towards Mr Maull intending to cause fear that unlawful violence might be used.

And he is accused of resisting arrest minutes later when the police were called in by members of the crematorium team.

Worthy’s case was adjourned until today, October 2, but a sentencing date was identified for October 27 and pre-sentence reports were ordered.

Mr Maull was said to be ‘shocked and shaken’ by Worthy’s actions but was not seriously hurt in the incident.

The celebrant and medium, who conducts services regularly at Acklam Crematorium, did not wish to speak about his ordeal, saying: ‘It’s not something I’d want to comment on.’

Cole Worthy’s mother Ms McConnell was distraught by the disruption to her son’s memorial.

After the funeral service Sarah Moloney, a friend of Ms McConnell, thanked mourners for their attendance on her behalf.

In a social media post, she said: ‘To everyone who came today for our Coley, thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.

‘Seeing so many faces who loved him, cared for him and held him close means more than we can ever put into words, your presence your hugs your kind words and every beautiful memory you shared.

‘Cole was so loved and today showed us just how far that love reached. Thank you for walking this hard day with us, thank you for loving him, for remembering him and for being here for us

‘He will live on in all our hearts forever. Rest peacefully our beautiful Coley, we love you more than anything.’

Gye Worthy’s semi-detached £200,000 home was rammed less than an hour before the crash that killed the five youngsters on a trunk road.

A red Volvo car twice reversed into the front of the house, causing substantial structural damage which is still in the process of being repaired.

Within minutes of the incident, Cole Worthy and four associates were out hunting for the Volvo in a VW Passat, intent on revenge.

Cole Worthy was killed within minutes of his father’s home being attacked, alongside Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Cahill, 23, and Theo Rae, 17.

Police officers Mr Blades and Mr Clough also died in the incident at 3.39am on Saturday, August 22 when their police armed response vehicle was struck at South Bank, near Middlesbrough.

An interim report into the crash ruled out tactical contact with the Passat by police and use of a Stinger device to puncture its tyres.

Emily Barry, director of engagement with the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: ‘We continue to recognise the devastating and long-lasting impact this incident has had on the families and those in the force, the policing community, and the wider local community.

‘We are aware there is speculation regarding how the collision occurred.

‘There is no suggestion the collision was a result of any direct police contact, nor was a stinger used by the police in an attempt to stop the Passat..’

Cleveland Police said the five in the Passat all had links to organised crime and had been trying to flee police when they drove the wrong way up the A66 into the police vehicle.

PCs Clough and Blades died from severe head and neck injuries at the scene, an inquest opening in Middlesbrough was told.

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