Five men deny conspiring to make threats to kill after masked men left a hearse on a Gateshead football pitch

Darren Kay, Graeme Rutherford, John Wright, Iain Boddy and Carl Barron all entered not guilty pleas at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday. The five are due to stand trial next year. In July 2023, a hearse and a Subaru performed 'donuts' at half-time of Dunston UTS's pre-season friendly with Gateshead. Balaclava-wearing men scattered leaflets making serious allegations before making their escape.

Children present at the match watched the masked men clamber out of the hearse and run off.

The vehicle was abandoned on the pitch, forcing the match to be called off.

Northumbria Police connected the incident to criminal damage in Dunston and Byker and a stolen vehicle.