Uncle of one of A66 crash gang 'was jailed for driving on wrong side of same road in 100mph police chase'

An uncle of one of the A66 joyriding crash gang victims was jailed for driving on the wrong side of the same road in a 100mph police chase, it has emerged.Aaron Saddington, 23, was given a 20-month sentence in June after hurtling into oncoming vehicles on the dual carriageway near Middlesbrough.His nephew Makai Saddington, 18, was among the seven people who died in the A66 collision last Saturday, alongside four of his friends and two police officers. Aaron was imprisoned after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, according to court documents reported by the Sun. The crash on the A66 in the early hours of Saturday killed two police officers as well as all five occupants of a stolen VW Passat, including 17-year-old Cole Worthy.The Daily Mail revealed how the chase was allegedly sparked by a rival gang, who used a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole's father at 3am on Saturday – just 40 minutes before the devastating smash.It is understood that the house belonging to Gye Worthy was rammed twice by the Volvo, which deliberately reversed into the front window, causing extensive damage. Within minutes, the VW Passat with his son Cole and four friends inside was racing around the streets of Middlesbrough in pursuit of the Volvo. Aaron Saddington, 23, was given a 20-month sentence in June after crashing into oncoming vehicles on the dual carriageway near Middlesbrough Makai Saddington, one of the five killed in the VW, posted videos on TikTok of him being chased by police and was awaiting trial for racially abusing and assaulting officersThe Passat was later spotted by a police patrol, resulting in the crash that killed PC Tom Clough, 38, and 37-year-old PC Matthew Blades.The five occupants of the stolen car – Worthy, Makai Saddington, 18, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, and Michael Cahill, 23 – were also killed.The Mail understands that the occupants of the Volvo and the Passat belonged to rival gangs operating as part of an organised criminal network across Teesside.There is no suggestion that Cole's father Gye, 39, was involved in any criminal activity.The attack on his home, however, appears to be the flashpoint that led to the fatal crash.Cleveland Police yesterday confirmed arrests including a 16-year-old boy as well as four men aged 18, 21, 23 and 55 – taking the total number detained up to 17. The five people arrested on Tuesday were: A 16-year-old boy on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;An 18-year-old man on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;A 21-year-old man on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;A 55-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender;A 23-year-old man on suspicion of threats to kill.The 12 people previously detained included four held on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and four on suspicion of possessing a firearm.Four of the suspects are also accused of possessing Class A and B drugs with intent to supply. PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed when his police vehicle was struck head-on by a VW Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough PC Tom Clough also died in the crash, which occurred around ten seconds after a police pursuit of the Volkswagen had been called offCleveland Police said two of the 12 previously arrested have now appeared in court.Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Court, Redcar, appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, according to the force.Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close, Redcar, was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 21 charged with drugs offences and possession of criminal property, it said.The chain of events that led to the deaths of the two officers, as well as the five occupants of the car, began in the well-to-do Middlesbrough suburb of Acklam, on a usually quiet street of post-war semis. A neighbour said: 'The huge bang woke everyone up and it was then followed by a second.'Whatever happened was quick because, by the time my husband looked out of the window, the car was gone, but there was very bad damage to the house.'One neighbour of the Worthys said Cole's father had lived at the address for around ten years and led 'a normal life'. He is listed at Companies House as the director of a private limited company called Worthylift Ltd, which was incorporated in July this year.A source told the Mail: 'After the attack on his father's house, Cole Worthy and his mates were out in the VW Passat looking for whoever had done this. Cole Worthy (right) with his friend Theo Rae, who also died in the crash on Saturday Jacob Matusiak, another occupant of the car which hit the officers' patrol vehicle, also posted videos of himself driving recklessly Michael Robert Cahill was also in the VW. He was the only one out of the five not to have previous convictions 'There have been a series of houses rammed in Middlesbrough in the last few months and it's all part of a feud between rival criminal factions.'When they fight among themselves it is one thing, but when innocent lives like those of two police officers are lost, that's completely another.'Cleveland Police has confirmed both the Volvo and VW Passat formed part of their enquiries in the early hours of August 22.Mr Worthy's home was rammed at about 3am. By 3.36am, the VW Passat was caught on CCTV racing at between 80 and 100mph down Lime Road in Teesville, pursued by three police vehicles.At 3.39am, it turned the wrong way on to the A66 dual carriageway, at which point the pursuing police vehicles stopped.Just ten seconds later, it smashed head-on into the armed response vehicle carrying PCs Clough and Blades.A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: 'On the morning of Saturday 22 August, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.'The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. 'Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the force's automated number plate recognition technology.'The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation.'Throughout the course of the weekend, Cleveland Police, supported by officers and staff from Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police, have worked tirelessly to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.'Those enquiries have resulted in the arrests of 12 people across Teesside.'Earlier this week balaclava-clad youths sparked anger after setting off flares and fireworks in a noisy tribute to the five dead youths.Friends and family of Jakub Matusiak, 23, gathered at a field in South Bank, just yards from the scene of Saturday's catastrophic collision.What began as a balloon release descended into confusion of smoke and noise when attendees lit up the sky with flares and rockets.A gang of around 20 masked youths on motorbikes and quad bikes roared around the field in honour of Mr Matusiak, who himself had convictions for motoring offences.Footage showed dozens of flares being held aloft, filling the field with dense orange fog as bikes revved their engines and blared their horns.The scenes sparked anger, with onlookers accusing the crowd of showing 'disrespect of the highest order'.The chaos came in stark contrast to a silent prayer vigil held at a nearby church to honour PC Clough and PC Blades.Paul Williams, acting deputy national chairman for the Police Federation of England and Wales, told BBC Breakfast: 'Every day we can identify now numerous examples of young people sensationalising dangerous driving.'Not just dangerous driving, but baiting police officers who are out there to protect the public.'It's a real problem. It's causing officers concern. They shouldn't have to be going out and worrying about whether they're going to return home from their shift or not.'But on top of that, wondering if they’re going to be plastered all over social media.'It's absolutely unacceptable and social media platforms need to take some action.'It was announced today that the Government would 'take action' to stop the trend of dangerous driving videos being posted online.Speaking to Channel 5 News, the Prime Minister was asked if there is anything the Government can do to crack down on the 'growing problem online of the police being goaded and provoked'.Andy Burnham said: 'There's always something we can do and the glorification of dangerous driving is an appalling trend and it needs to be challenged and that means everybody playing their part to stop it, including the tech companies.'Pressed on whether he would be asking technology firms to take down such content, he added: 'I'm waiting for a full investigation into what happened at the weekend, but people can be sure that we'll take action off all of the issues that are coming out.' Previous convictions of the gang Cole WorthyUse threatening abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on October 27, 2024 and pleaded guiltyFailing to surrender to custody on May 14, 2025 and pleaded guiltyCommon assault of a police officer on 27 April 2025 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyUsing a vehicle without insurance on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without reasonable consideration on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving using a mobile phone on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyJakub MatusiakUsing a vehicle without insurance on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyMakai SaddingtonPossession of a controlled class C drug on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guiltyPossession of a knife in a public place on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guilty11 October 2025 three offences for assaulting a police officer and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyRacially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyTheo Rae12 shoplifting offences between October 21, 2023 and May 4, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesThree thefts from motor vehicle offences between January 31, 2024 and September 25, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesOne theft of vehicle on April 13, 2024 and pleaded guiltyPossession of cannabis on April 22, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking on May 16, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking January 2, 2025 and pleaded guiltyConviction of an offence while a youth rehabilitation order is in force on February 26, 2025 and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on April 30, 2026 and pleaded guilty