Horden incident: Two charged with manslaughter over DPD driver's death

Gary Peter Hepworth, 43, and Joseph Henry Niles, 41, were arrested following an incident in the Handley Street area of Horden, County Durham on Sunday morning.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but a DPD delivery driver was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

UPDATED: Pair appear in court accused of manslaughter after death of delivery driver

Mr Hepworth, of Hartlepool, and Mr Niles, of Peterlee, were both charged with manslaughter and theft on Tuesday (March 21) night.

The scene in Horden on Sunday (March 19). (Image: Picture: STUART BOULTON)

Mr Hepworth was also charged with assault causing actual bodily harm after an officer was injured whilst he was being detained.

The pair remain in police custody and will appear before Peterlee Magistrates Court on Wednesday (March 22).

To get more stories direct to your email basket go here 

Police cordoned off three roads including Handley Street and two back alleys on Sunday while they worked at the scene.

Read next:

• Mum left devastated after £4,500 of stock stolen during break in at beauty salon
• Businesses forced to close after ram-raiders target Co-op causing extensive damage
• Sunderland man Aaron Ray 'guilty' of murder of student boyfriend at Newcastle flat

Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here

A forensic tent was erected next to a white DPD van alongside a row of terraced houses.

Handley Street after the police cordon had lifted on Monday (March 20). (Image: STUART BOULTON)

One resident said the incident had been "absolutely terrible" and offered sympathy for the man and his family.

Officers confirmed the delivery driver’s death on Sunday evening. He is yet to be named.