Manhunt for father of teenager killed in A66 Middlesbrough crash after he fails to appear in court for assaulting celebrant at son’s funeral
A warrant without bail has been issued for Gye Worthy after he failed to attend Teesside Magistrates’ Court for sentencing over offences including assaulting the celebrant at his son’s funeral. The case follows a crash in which his 17-year-old son, Cole, and four other young men died, along with two police officers.
Worthy had pleaded guilty to assaulting celebrant Paul Maull, resisting police and stealing four bottles of wine. The assault took place at Cole’s memorial service on 9 September; prosecutors said Worthy became angry because he had not been mentioned early enough in the eulogy. The judge said Worthy had not contacted the court or his solicitors to explain his absence, and ordered that he be held in custody if arrested until brought before the court.
In short
- Gye Worthy failed to attend court for sentencing.
- A warrant without bail was issued.
- He had admitted assaulting his son’s funeral celebrant.
Explained simply
Cole Worthy was 17 when he died in a crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough. Four other young men and two police officers also died, making the crash a major loss for families and the local community.
At Cole’s memorial service on 9 September, his father, Gye Worthy, assaulted celebrant Paul Maull, who was leading the service. Prosecutors said Worthy was angry because his son had not been mentioned earlier in the eulogy. Worthy also admitted resisting police and stealing four bottles of wine; the offences were due to be dealt with at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.