Manhunt for dad who attacked celebrant at son's funeral after skipping court

A manhunt is underway for a father who attacked a celebrant during his son’s funeral after he failed to appear in court for sentencing, the BBC reported ^[1]. Gye Worthy, 40, is wanted on a warrant not backed by bail, meaning he must be held in custody once located, according to the Daily Mail ^[2].

Worthy had pleaded guilty to common assault and resisting arrest following a disturbance at Teesside Crematorium in September. The incident occurred during the service for his 17-year-old son, Cole, who was one of five teenagers killed in a head-on collision with a police car on the A66 in August, as noted by The Independent ^[4].

The court heard that Worthy did not attend Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and had not contacted his solicitors or the court to explain his absence, according to Mirror ^[3]. Deputy District Judge Julia Baggs agreed to the prosecution’s application for a warrant, stating she accepted the circumstances required for a no-bail order, the BBC stated ^[1].

The funeral disturbance saw Worthy allegedly grabbing celebrant Paul Maull by his clothing and threatening him with violence in front of mourners, the Daily Mail reported ^[2]. Sources suggest Worthy became enraged because his name was not mentioned early enough in the eulogy, according to the Mirror ^[3]. His son’s mother, Natalie McConnell, was described as “devastated and shocked” by the scene, the Daily Mail added.

Cole Worthy died alongside four friends when their Volkswagen Passat, travelling the wrong way on the A66, struck a marked police vehicle, killing officers Matthew Blades and Tom Clough, according to the BBC ^[1]. The crash followed reports that Worthy’s home had been ram-raided earlier that night, which police linked to a suspected gangland feud, the Daily Mail stated ^[2].

Worthy also admitted to stealing four bottles of wine worth £30 from a shop, a separate offence he was due to be sentenced for, the BBC confirmed ^[1]. He had previously failed to appear for a hearing on separate drug possession charges, leading to a second warrant being issued, according to The Independent ^[4].