Four of the five people who died when a VW Passat collided with a police vehicle on the A66 had criminal records, Cleveland Police has confirmed. The crash, which also killed two officers, happened in the early hours of Saturday, August 22, in South Bank near Middlesbrough.
Cole Worthy, Makai Saddington and Theo Rae had all previously pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers at Teesside Magistrates' Court, the Teesside Gazette reports. The three teenagers died alongside 23-year-olds Jakub Matusiak and Michael Robert Cahill. Officers Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were also killed.
Pursuit and collision
The VW Passat was being pursued by Cleveland Police officers when it drove down the A66 carriageway against the flow of traffic. The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) said the pursuit was aborted at that point, and around 10 seconds later the Passat collided with the marked armed response vehicle, which was travelling in the correct direction.
It has previously been reported that Makai Saddington, 18, had admitted assaulting a police officer and racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress relating to an incident in Middlesbrough on June 9. Michael Robert Cahill, 23, had no previous convictions.
Criminal records detailed
Cole Worthy pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on 27 October 2024; failing to surrender to custody on 14 May 2025; common assault of a police officer on 27 April 2025; driving without a licence on 7 June 2026; using a vehicle without insurance on 7 June 2026; driving without reasonable consideration on 7 June 2026; and driving using a mobile phone on 7 June 2026.
Makai Saddington pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled class C drug on 31 May 2025; possession of a knife in a public place on 31 May 2025; three offences for assaulting a police officer on 11 October 2025; assaulting a police officer on 9 June 2026; and racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress on 9 June 2026.
Theo Rae pleaded guilty to 12 shoplifting offences between 21 October 2023 and 4 May 2024; three thefts from motor vehicle offences between 31 January 2024 and 25 September 2024; one theft of vehicle on 13 April 2024; possession of cannabis on 22 April 2024; aggravated vehicle taking on 16 May 2024; aggravated vehicle taking on 2 January 2025; conviction of an offence while a youth rehabilitation order is in force on 26 February 2025; and assaulting a police officer on 30 April 2026.
Jakub Matusiak pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance on 22 March 2026 and driving without a licence on 22 March 2026.
Tributes and arrests
Floral tributes have been left at the scene in memory of the five young men. One message said: "Theo what can we say, you really was [sic] the most beautiful kind hearted lad anyone could meet." Another said: "My Coley. I love you so much. I am so grateful for the time we got to spend together. I just can't believe I will never see you again."
On Monday, August 24, Cleveland Police confirmed 12 people have been arrested in the aftermath of the crash following a complex and fast-paced investigation. Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of several offences, ranging from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group. The force said there is currently no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning has taken place for the purposes of TikTok.
