Man charged after ruining football game by driving hearse onto pitch | UK News

Police have charged a man who drove a hearse onto a football pitch in the middle of a game, causing the match to be abandoned.

Two vehicles were driven onto the pitch during half-time of the Dunston UTS v Gateshead match at Dunston Football Club on Wellington Road, Gateshead on July 21 last year.

The hearse and a Subaru then did ‘donuts’ on the turf, before a group of males wearing balaclavas got out of the vehicles and walked onto the pitch.

They then threw leaflets onto the grass and fled the scene in the Subaru before police arrived , but left the hearse behind on the grass.

According to witnesses, the shocking incident left children in tears and caused chaos on the sidelines as people screamed in panic.

The pre-season friendly match between the two non-league sides was called off as a result.

Following the incident, Northumbria Police launched an investigation and arrested 12 people.

The force said it has now charged a 29-year-old from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, with criminal damage and a public order offence.

He will appear before South Tyneside Magistrates on January 31.

Two men – aged 41 and 29 – remain under investigation while another two men – aged 42 and 40 – remain on police bail.

Seven other men arrested in connection with the incident will face no further action.

A fan at the match said: ‘It was half-time and the players were still on the pitch just doing some warm-ups when a silver car and a hearse came onto the pitch and started doing donuts.

‘Two men jumped out of the hearse and people were saying they were armed. They then got into the silver car and they sped off.

‘It was horrible to see. There were loads of kids in tears. It all happened so fast, in probably less than a minute.

‘At first people were just watching what was happening but then people started running away. I heard people say they had guns and people were running for cover. 

‘I’ve never seen anything like it. I just hope everyone is okay.’

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