SH0CKING TWIST: UNCLE OF ‘JOYRIDER’ KI-LLED IN HORR0R CRASH WAS ALREADY JAI-LED FOR DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE SAME ROAD DURING A 100MPH POLICE CHASE — EERIE FAMILY CONNECTION EMERGES
AN UNCLE of one of the A66 crash gang was jailed for driving on the wrong side of the same road during a 100mph police chase.
Aaron Saddington, 23, was locked up for 20 months in June after trying to shake off cops by speeding at oncoming traffic on the dual carriageway.
Aaron Saddington drove the wrong way to flee cops in MayCredit: Facebook.
Makai Saddington, 18, had previous convictions and was alleged to be pursuing a rival gang alongside his friends
He was caged after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, according to court documents obtained by The Sun.
The terrifying incident was almost identical to the head-on crash that left his nephew, Makai Saddington, 18, and six others dead on Saturday.
Makai and pals — Michael Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and 17-year-old Cole Worthy — died fleeing cops.
Police halted the pursuit after the gang, in a VW Passat, raced onto the A66.
Ten seconds later the car ploughed into an armed response unit.
Two firearms officers — married dad-of-two PC Matthew Blades, 37, and Iraq war hero PC Tom Clough, 38 — died instantly.
Yesterday police made five new arrests as part of a “fast-moving and complex” probe into serious and organised crime gangs linked to the fatal crash.
The five men, aged 16 to 55, were held a day after nine men and three women were arrested.
A police pic of Aaron SaddingtonCredit: Cleveland Police
A ram raid at Gye Worthy’s home linked to the crash that killed his sonCredit: NNP
Two of those arrested, aged 19 and 26, have since appeared in court charged with possession of a firearm, drug dealing and possession of stolen property. A third has been recalled to prison.
National Crime Agency officers have joined the investigation.
They believe the Passat gang were out for revenge after the home belonging to Worthy’s dad was rammed twice by a Volvo XC60 at 3am on Saturday.
There is no suggestion Worthy’s dad, Gye, 39, was involved in criminal activity.
But police believe it may have provided the flashpoint for events leading to the 3.39am crash.
A neighbour in Middlesbrough said: “The huge bang woke everyone up and it was 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.”
It was just three months ago that Aaron Saddington led police on a chase along the same A66 stretch.
Teesside crown court was told it was lucky no one died after he sped away from cops on May 6 following reports of erratic driving.
The fatal collision happened in the early hours of SaturdayCredit: NNP
Close friends Theo Rae, 17, (left) and Cole Worthy, 17, are understood to have been chasing a rival gang in the Passat when it crashedCredit: Facebook/Theo Rae
An unmarked police car spotted him and gave chase before being joined by two marked patrol vehicles.
Saddington ran a red light at more than 50mph before joining the A66 eastbound in the wrong direction at 1am, the court was told.
Cops radioed for back-up and followed Saddington from the correct side of the carriageway as his car topped speeds of 100mph.
A number of police cars were involved in the pursuit in a bid to prevent a mass casualty crash, prosecutors said.
Saddington was eventually stopped and made a run for it but was arrested.
Jacob Matusiak, 23, had previous convictions and died in the crashCredit: Facebook/Jakub Hewitt
Michael Cahill, 23, who had no convictions, died in the crash which also killed two police officersCredit: Facebook/Michael Ray
His violent nephew Makai was also no stranger to court.
He had appeared in the dock for drug offences, possession of a knife, assaulting police, and racially aggravated harassment.
Footage on TikTok also showed Makai driving an Audi across a field during a separate police chase in March.
Makai’s masked pals are expected to gather tonight for a tasteless balloon release on the estate he terrorised.
Graffiti on walls and fences read “Rest easy boys. Never forgoten (sic)” and “RIP the boys”.
PC Matthew Blades’ wife has paid a touching tribute to her husband (image released to police by the victim’s family)Credit: Cleveland Police
PC Tom Clough tragically died in the horror collisionCredit: PA
PM Andy Burnham has ordered social media platforms to remove videos glorifying dangerous driving.
Feral youths desperate for “likes” on social media have baited cops into high-speed chases.
The Police Federation’s Paul Williams said: “Every day we can identify numerous examples of young people sensationalising dangerous driving.
“Officers shouldn’t have to be 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.”
Tributes to the tragic cops as flowers are laid outside Cleveland Police Central HQCredit: Getty
Floral tributes have been laid at Cleveland Police HQ for the two dead officersCredit: PA
Under the Online Safety Act, videos that show illegal activity are not automatically ruled out as illegal.
Instead, it is left to social network bosses to decide whether the material breaks the law.
There are now calls for the Act, which became law in October 2023, to be toughened up.
TikTok has removed the accounts belonging to Matusiak and Cahill.
Matusiak’s featured videos of him driving recklessly in cars and on motorbikes.
A GoFundMe for the two officers’ families was nearing £1million last night.
Their inquests are due to be opened and adjourned tomorrow.
SOURCE: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40171502/joyrider-uncle-cops-chase-wrong-side-road/
