Northumbria Police have charged five men in connection with violent disorder involving a funeral hearse driven onto a football pitch. The incidents stem from investigations into summer 2023 events, including a hearse and Subaru car being driven onto the pitch at Dunston Football Club during a Dunston UTC v Gateshead match on 21 July 2023. Those inside the hearse threw leaflets onto the pitch before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing in the Subaru, causing the match to be called off.

The leaflets contained personal allegations about two individuals. The charged individuals are Carl Barron, 43, of Grange Villa, County Durham; Ian Boddy, 44, previously of Bishop Auckland, County Durham; Darren Kay, 31, of Chester-Le-Street, County Durham; Graeme Rutherford, 54, of Birtley, Gateshead; and John Wright, 42, of Tow Law, County Durham. All are due to appear at Sunderland and South Tyneside Magistrates' Court this week.

Det Ch Insp David Johnson of Northumbria Police urged the public to refrain from speculation that could impact the proceedings.