Five men accused of driving a hearse on to a football pitch during a half-time stunt in Gateshead will stand trial next year after denying all the charges against them.
The incident happened at Dunston UTS Football Club on July 21 2023, during a pre-season friendly against Gateshead. A Subaru and the hearse were driven in circles on the pitch before masked men emerged from the funeral vehicle and scattered leaflets.
The hearse was then abandoned on the turf and the match had to be called off. The leaflets contained serious allegations against two individuals, although the claims have not been tested in court.
Northumbria Police said the incident formed part of a series of allegedly connected offences reported across the North East during the summer of 2023. These included reports of criminal damage at addresses in Dunston and Byker, Newcastle, as well as the theft of a vehicle from County Durham.
The charges followed Operation Sentinel, a Northumbria Police investigation into serious and organised crime.
At Newcastle Crown Court on Friday, Darren Kay, Graeme Rutherford, John Wright, Iain Boddy and Carl Barron each pleaded not guilty to every charge they face.
Kay, 31, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, denied conspiracy to make threats to kill.
Rutherford, 54, from Birtley, Gateshead, denied two counts of conspiracy to damage property and conspiracy to make threats to kill.
Wright, 42, from Tow Law, County Durham, denied two counts of conspiracy to damage property, conspiracy to make threats to kill and conspiracy to steal.
Boddy, 44, formerly of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, denied conspiracy to steal and participating in the activities of an organised crime group.
Barron, 43, from County Durham, denied two counts of conspiracy to damage property, conspiracy to make threats to kill and conspiracy to steal.
Judge Gavin Doig said the trial was expected to last four weeks and would begin on November 1 next year.
Detective Chief Inspector David Johnson, of Northumbria Police, said the force had been working on a “long-spanning and complex investigation” since becoming aware of the activity, which officers had treated as 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,” he said.
He added: “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.”
