Four of the five young men who died after their vehicle hit a police car had 37 prior convictions between them – including motoring offences and assaulting an officer.
Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Cole Worthy, 17, and Theo Rae, 17, all admitted a series of offences in the three years before the collision near Middlesbrough.
Michael Cahill, 23, was the only person in the car who had no convictions before the crash on Saturday which also killed PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
Worthy, Saddington and Rae had all pleaded guilty to separate offences of assaulting a police officer, while Matusiak had admitted driving without a licence or insurance.
Rae also had 12 shoplifting offences, three thefts from a vehicle, one theft of a vehicle, two offences of aggravated vehicle taking and one of cannabis possession.
Saddington had admitted possessing a Class C drug and a knife in a public place, as well as assaulting a police officer and racially aggravated intentional harassment.
Worthy had pleaded guilty to four driving offences, failing to surrender to custody and using abusive language. The four had admitted a total of 37 offences since 2023.
Cleveland Police said the men may have had links to ‘serious and organised criminal activity’, while since the crash 12 others have been arrested over alleged criminality.
Theo Rae (left) and Cole Worthy (right), both 17, were among the five young men who died
Jakub Matusiak (left), 23, and Makai Saddington (right), 18, also died in the crash on Saturday
Michael Cahill, 23, was the only person in the car who had no convictions before the crash
These include four people arrested 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.
Four of the five young men in the car had previous criminal convictions, and were believed to be associated with another car which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.
Mr Blades and Mr Clough were killed when a Volkswagen Passat – which had been pursued by police – was driven the wrong way along a dual carriageway near Middlesbrough and hit their marked armed response vehicle.
The five people travelling in the Volkswagen were pronounced dead at the scene at South Bank, early on Saturday.
Police said nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested after an investigation over the weekend into alleged criminal activity before the crash.
The force said on the morning of the collision, it received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.
The first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area.
The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo.
Police said both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates but were picked up by automated number plate recognition technology.
The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough.
Police said there was no evidence that filming of the activities on Friday night and Saturday morning was ‘for the purposes of TikTok’.
One police official said this morning that young people ‘sensationalising dangerous driving’ has become a ‘real problem’.
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.’
Downing Street described the ‘glorification’ of dangerous driving clips on social media as ‘utterly disgraceful’ and has already contacted the platforms to raise concerns.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, said: ‘This has been a fast-moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.’
He went on to say: ‘We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice.’
Lauren Somerville, chairman of Cleveland Police Federation, told Sky News that the two men were the ’embodiment of policing’ in an emotional interview.
She said: ‘It’s so hard to describe how this grief feels and how it will feel. Policing is so unique, so unique. We are injected into the darkest moments in people’s lives, whether that be arresting somebody or you know, saving a life.
‘Whatever it is, and officers forge relationships that might happen in a moment, or might happen over a full career together, and you cannot describe the grief. It’s something that, unless you know a police officer, is difficult to understand.’
Flowers left beside the A66 close to the crash site paid tribute to the officers who died. A paramedic wrote a card with a bouquet which said: ‘Thank you for your service. RIP.’
Flares light up the skies in memory of Matusiak at South Bank Field in Middlesbrough last night
Balloons are released into the sky yesterday just yards from where the officers were killed
A vigil at St John The Evangelist Church in South Bank to remember the two police officers
Another said: ‘Behind every uniform is a person with a life, family, friends and people whose lives they have touched along the way.’
One card simply said: ‘For our 2 brave police officers, may you both rest in peace.’
More than £750,000 has been raised for the families of the two police officers who were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, that had been pursued by police, hit their marked armed response vehicle seconds after the chase was terminated.
A fundraiser created by the Cleveland Police Federation said funds raised would be split equally between the two officers’ families and the federation would continue to provide support.
Cleveland Police launched the chase after receiving intelligence relating to ‘numerous incidents’ linked to a Passat, which activated an ANPR camera and is believed to have been using cloned plates, investigating watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.
PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.
Family members described former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer PC Clough as ‘our hero’ who was ‘always on public duty’.
The father-of-two’s family called him ‘our superhero’ and said: ‘He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.’
In a statement issued by Cleveland Police, PC Blades’s wife called him ‘my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys’.
She said he was ‘an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle’.
‘He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled,’ she said. ‘Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.’
She added: ‘Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.’
He had recently joined Seaton Carew FC as a coach and was looking forward to teaching his son in its under-sevens Seahawks squad, the club said.
The officer also coached his eldest son and other youngsters in the under-10s Reds team at FC Hartlepool, which called him ‘a role model, a mentor, a friend, and someone the children looked up to and admired’.
PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed when his police vehicle was struck head-on
PC Tom Clough also died in the crash, ten seconds after a police pursuit had been called off
It added: ‘He was able to share his love of football with his son while inspiring and supporting every child on the team.’
Earlier on Sunday, PC Clough’s family said: ‘He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason.
‘Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.’
It continued: ‘We as a family and Tom’s partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community.’
Tributes for the five young men were also shared on social media, with many of their friends saying they ‘can’t believe it’ and were ‘heartbroken’ and ‘lost for words’.
One message, dedicated to all five, said: ‘We all knew use and knew use had hearts of gold and most loyalist lads.’
In a vigil to commemorate Matusiak yesterday, fireworks were set off and balloons released into the sky just yards from where the officers were killed.
One grandmother walking by last night’s event, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘This is nothing but a mockery of the lives of those two policemen.
‘I’ve watched them walking down there drinking and smoking weed and razzing about on their motorbikes. There’s nothing here to celebrate.’
Further balloon releases have been announced in their memory today, tomorrow and Thursday at different locations.
The Passat they were travelling in was spotted and an armed response vehicle pursued for just under seven minutes before the car drove on to the A66 at South Bank against the flow of traffic.
Police aborted the chase and continued to travel on the correct side of the carriageway. The Passat crashed into PC Blades and PC Clough’s vehicle around ten seconds after the chase ended.
The scenes celebrating the young men were in stark contrast to the silent prayer vigil for PC Clough and PC Blades at St John The Evangelist Church in South Bank.
Labour MP for Redcar, Anna Turley, paid her respects, saying: ‘The whole community here is reeling, and we’ve lost lives, particularly those lives of brave police officers who are out in action to keep us safe. It’s a tragic incident.’
