Who Were the Four Men in the A66 Crash? Their Previous Offences Revealed

Four of the five people who died when a Volkswagen Passat crashed into a police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough had previous convictions, Cleveland Police have confirmed.

The collision on Saturday, 22 August, killed seven people, including PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38. The officers were travelling in a marked armed-response vehicle when it was struck by the Passat, which was travelling in the wrong direction along the dual carriageway.

The previous convictions included assaults on police officers, motoring offences, theft and drug possession. Michael Robert Cahill, 23, was the only one of the five occupants with no previous convictions, according to information released by police.

Four Passat Occupants Had Previous Convictions

Makai Saddington, 18, had previously admitted four offences involving assaults on police officers. Three involved assaults on officers in the execution of their duty in October 2025, while another was admitted in June 2026. He also admitted possessing a bladed article, a Class C substance and committing racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

Cole Robert Worthy, 17, pleaded guilty to common assault of a police officer in April 2025. He later admitted motoring offences in June 2026, including driving without a licence or insurance, using a mobile phone while driving and driving without reasonable consideration.

Jacob Matusiak, 23, had convictions for driving without a licence and using a vehicle without insurance in March 2026.

Theo Rae, 17, had previous convictions dating back to 2023. His record included 12 shoplifting offences, thefts from motor vehicles, vehicle theft, aggravated vehicle taking and possession of cannabis. He also admitted assaulting a police officer in April 2026.

Michael Robert Cahill, 23, was the only one of the five occupants with no previous convictions, according to information released by police.

Investigation Focuses on Events Before Crash

Cleveland Police said officers received reports in the early hours of Saturday about two vehicles being driven dangerously in Middlesbrough. One, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was reported to have rammed residential properties, while the Passat was believed to have been associated with its activities.

The force said the Passat was being driven with cloned number plates, while the Volvo was later recovered in Middlesbrough.

Police pursued the Passat before it entered the A66 travelling in the wrong direction. The pursuit was called off shortly before the vehicle struck the marked police car carrying PCs Blades and Clough.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said the two officers were not involved in the original pursuit but had been deployed to assist with the search for the Passat.

Cleveland Police have also said there is no evidence that the dangerous driving was filmed for TikTok. Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox described the investigation as 'fast moving and complex,' with 'significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.'

Tributes Paid to Two Officers

The deaths of PC Blades and PC Clough have prompted tributes from their families and colleagues.

PC Blades was a husband and father of two who had recently taken on a coaching role at Seaton Carew FC. His family said the pain of losing him was 'beyond words.'

PC Clough was a former British Transport Police officer and former soldier. His family described him as their 'hero' and praised his 'fantastic sense of humour.'

A fundraiser organised by the Cleveland Police Federation had raised almost £400,000 ($545,000) by Monday, 24 August, with the money due to be divided between the officers' families.