FUNERAL DESCENDS INTO CHAOS — DAD OF A66 CRASH VICTIM CHARGED AFTER DISTURBANCE AT HIS SON’S SERVICE

A funeral meant to remember a 17-year-old killed in the A66 tragedy was disrupted by a disturbance — and now his father is facing criminal charges.

What should have been a day of grief and remembrance for 17-year-old Cole Worthy ended in turmoil when police were called to his funeral service in Middlesbrough.

Cole’s father, 39-year-old Gye Worthy, was arrested following a disturbance at Teesside Crematorium on Wednesday, September 9.

He has since been charged with common assault, a public order offence and obstructing police, according to Cleveland Police. He is due to appear before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on October 2.

A FUNERAL INTERRUPTED

Police were called to the crematorium at around 12:30 p.m. after reports of a disturbance during the service.

According to reports, the incident allegedly began after Worthy took exception to comments made during the funeral.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene, and the service later resumed.

Police have not suggested that Worthy has any connection to organised crime.

The charges against him are allegations, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in court.

COLE WAS ONLY 17

Cole was one of five young men who died in the horrific A66 collision on August 22.

The other victims were Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and Theo Rae, 17.

Their Volkswagen Passat collided head-on with a marked police vehicle, killing Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.

Police have previously said the five young men had links to organised crime and were attempting to flee police. However, there is no suggestion that Cole’s father, Gye Worthy, has any such links.

The crash has since triggered heightened tensions across Middlesbrough, with hundreds of additional officers deployed to the area and multiple arrests made amid concerns about further disorder.

HIS MOTHER WAS LEFT “DEVASTATED”

Cole’s mother, Natalie McConnell, was reportedly left devastated and shocked by what happened during her son’s funeral.

A friend, Sarah Moloney, later shared a message thanking those who attended the service and supported the family.

She described Cole as deeply loved and said the huge turnout showed how many people cared about him.

The funeral announcement remembered him as an adored son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin, as well as a loving boyfriend and cherished friend.

For his family, the day was supposed to be about saying goodbye.

Instead, it became another dramatic chapter in a tragedy that has already shaken the entire region.

A COMMUNITY STILL IN SHOCK

The funeral took place on the same day PC Matthew Blades was being laid to rest in Hartlepool.

Hundreds of police officers and members of the public gathered to honor the 37-year-old father of two, who was remembered as a dedicated officer, family man and youth football coach.

PC Tom Clough, 38, was also remembered in a separate service, with colleagues paying tribute to his years of service, including his previous military work in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, authorities have continued to maintain a major police presence across Middlesbrough as tensions surrounding the A66 tragedy remain high.

THE CASE NOW MOVES TO COURT

Gye Worthy is due before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on October 2.

For now, the circumstances surrounding the disturbance remain the subject of the criminal proceedings.

A funeral intended to mark the final goodbye to a 17-year-old has instead become another source of controversy surrounding one of the most closely watched tragedies in the region.

And with several families still mourning the seven people lost in the A66 crash, the community remains under intense scrutiny as authorities try to prevent further unrest.