Five men charged after HEARSE driven onto football pitch – causing non-league game to be abandoned

FIVE men have been charged after a hearse was driven on to a football pitch – causing a match to be abandoned. Footage showed the funeral vehicle storming the ground at Dunstan FC alongside a silver Subaru. The hearse was driven onto the pitch during a match Credit: Archie Clark/NCJ Media The car was seen doing doughnuts before the game was abandoned Credit: Twitter/____B17____ Fans watched as the cars were seen performing donuts and drifting across the pitch while a number of posters were thrown from the windows. The hearse was then abandoned – with the referee having to abandon the match against Gateshead at half time with the score 1-1. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! It was reported at the time the stunt may have been a protest over the ownership of Dunston FC. Following the strange incident on July 21, 2023, further reports of criminal damage were reported across the Dunston, Byker and Newcastle area. Northumbria Police today confirmed five men have been charged with a string of offences following the launch of Operation Sentinel. All five are due to appear at Sunderland and South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on either Wednesday or Friday this week. 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. Most read in Sport “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.” The five men are Carl Barron, 43, who is accused of two counts of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, conspiracy to make threats to kill and conspiracy to steal. Ian Boddy, 44, is charged with conspiracy to steal and participating in the activities of an organised crime group, while Darren Kay, 31, is accused of conspiracy to make threats to kill. Graeme Rutherford, 54, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to make threats to kill. John Wright, 42, has been accused of two counts of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, conspiracy to make threats to kill and conspiracy to steal.