Five people charged after an investigation into a hearse being driven onto a football pitch at half-time by masked men will face trial next year. 

Darren Kay, Graeme Rutherford, John Wright, Iain Boddy and Carl Barron were arrested following what police described as a ‘number of connected’ offences reported across the summer of 2023 in North East England.

On July 21 of that year two vehicles - a Subaru and a hearse – performed ‘donuts’ on the pitch of Dunston UTS Football Club at half-time of their pre-season friendly against local rivals Gateshead. 

A group of men wearing balaclavas then got out of the hearse and dropped leaflets before fleeing in the Subaru. 

The leaflets included serious allegations made against two individuals.

The hearse was left on the turf and the match had to be abandoned. 

Police say further incidents included reports of criminal damage across addresses in the Dunston and Byker, Newcastle, areas, as well as a stolen vehicle from the Durham area. 

Following the Operation Sentinel investigation by Northumbria Police, the men were charged in connection with a number of offences.

During a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday, all five pleaded not guilty to all charges they face.

Kay, 31, of Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, denied conspiracy to make threats to kill. 

Rutherford, 54, of Birtley, Gateshead, denied two counts of conspiracy to damage property and conspiracy to make threats to kill. 

Wright, 42, of Tow Law, County Durham, denied two counts of conspiracy to damage property, conspiracy to make threats to kill and conspiracy to steal.

Boddy, 44, previously of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, denied conspiracy to steal and participating in the activities of an organised crime group. 

Barron, 43, of County Durham, denied two counts of conspiracy to damage property, conspiracy to make threats to kill and conspiracy to steal. 

Judge Gavin Doig said a trial, which is due to take four weeks, will start on November 1 next year.

In a statement, Detective Chief Inspector David Johnson, from Northumbria Police, said: 'We've been working through a long-spanning and complex investigation since we were first aware of this activity, which we have always treated as being linked.

'Operation Sentinel is our regional response to reports of serious and organised crime – and our teams have worked tirelessly alongside our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service to have now reached these charges.

'As ever, we would ask the public to refrain from any kind of speculation – both in the community and online – which could negatively impact the proceedings.'