Two men appear in court after hearse was abandoned at football match in Gateshead
Two men have appeared in court following a lengthy police inquiry after a hearse was driven onto a football pitch, causing a match to be abandoned.
Two men have appeared in court following a lengthy police inquiry after a hearse was driven onto a football pitch, causing a match to be abandoned.
The force launched an investigation into a series of connected events which included two vehicles being driven onto the grass at half-time of the Dunston UTS against Gateshead match in July 2023.
Video shared on social media showed the hearse and a Subaru being driven in circles on the turf, several men wearing balaclavas getting out on the pitch, then throwing leaflets into the air.
The group drove off in the Subaru before police arrived, abandoning the hearse on the grass.
Ian Boddy, 44, formerly of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, appeared via a video link at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court charged with conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle and participation in an organised crime group.
Carl Barron, 43, formerly of Grange Villa, County Durham, also appeared via a link at the same court, charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage, conspiracy to make threats to kill and conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.
Both men were granted conditional bail and will appear before Newcastle Crown Court on October 21.
Northumbria Police said on Tuesday that five men had been charged, with three others due to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Detective Chief Inspector David Johnson, of Northumbria Police, said: “We’ve been working through a long-spanning and complex investigation since we were first aware of this activity, which we have always treated as being linked.
“Operation Sentinel is our regional response to reports of serious and organised crime – and our teams have worked tirelessly alongside our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service to have now reached these charges.
“As ever, we would ask the public to refrain from any kind of speculation – both in the community and online – which could negatively impact the proceedings.”