Driver on first date jailed after he put SEVEN cops in hospital
Cops just trying to flag broken taillight when personal trainer sped off
Holly Christodoulou,
A DRIVER on a first date has been jailed after he put seven cops in hospital in a huge pile-up while trying to flee officers.
Mazyar Azarbonyad was taking Courtney Redfern home in his powerful BMW on the A41 in Newcastle when police gave chase.
Man leaving court after a car crash.
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Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, left seven police officers in hospitalCredit: PA
Close-up portrait of Courtney Redfurn.
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He was on a date with Courtney Redfern at the timeCredit: Instagram
A1 highway closed due to a serious multi-vehicle collision.
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Damaged police cars and an unmarked black car on its side following the A1 collisionCredit: PA
Illustration of five-police-car crash on A1 near Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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The 20-year-old smashed into five cop cars - leaving them destroyed - and wrecked his own car in the horror crash.
Shocking photos showed the aftermath of the collision after one of the police cars had its roof torn off.
Seven officers were taken to hospital for non-life threatening injuries, while Azarbonyad, who has never had a full licence, and his date were unharmed.
The Iran-born personal trainer, who came to the UK in around 2020, has now been jailed for 14 months.
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He admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash.
Azarbonyad also pleaded guilty to a string of other offences, including driving without insurance or a licence on several occasions after the crash.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the horror unfolded on April 9 at around 2.30am.
Police had initially tried to stop Azarbonyad in Gateshead as one of his rear lights was defective but told officers "nah" before speeding off.
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A high-speed chase ensued as the BMW driver made his way to the A1 surrounded by cop cars.
He then "rapidly decelerated from 119mph" to stop in the middle of the carriageway - forcing the police to emergency brake.
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An unmarked police Volvo, which had earlier reached speeds of 135mph, then hit Azarbonyad and the other cars at about 80mph.
Jack Lovell, for Azarbonyad, said: "From there, there is something of a domino effect - it flips over and then the other police vehicles are also involved."
Mum-of-two Courtney begged Azarbonyad to stop during the pursuit and told police the BMW felt "unsafe" and "wobbly" due to the high speed.
The pair miraculously managed to escape the wreckage without any major injuries.
A female police officer suffered soft tissue injuries to her knee and nerve damage to her back and she was in hospital for three days.
While a male officer was left with a cut to his head, concussion and whiplash.
Following the crash, which shut the busy road for 12 hours, Azarbonyad got back behind the wheel just two days later - despite having no licence or insurance.
He continued to drive on four further occasions after being told not to as part of his bail conditions.
Simon Worthy, prosecuting, said: "One would have thought as a matter of common sense... that you would have been a bit more sensible about your activities, having been so lucky to get out of an accident only two days before.
"But no, no, you continue to stick two fingers up."
As well as a jail term, Azarbonyad was banned from the road for three years and seven months.
Mugshot of Mazyar Azarbonyad.
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Azarbonyad has been jailed for 14 months
Superintendent Billy Mulligan, of Northumbria Police, said: “It is sheer luck that Mazyar Azarbonyad did not kill anyone that day with his reckless actions.
“What should have been a simple stop turned into him driving incredibly dangerously in a bid to get away from officers.
“He showed absolutely zero regard for the safety of anyone else that morning, and his decision-making behind the wheel put lives at risk.
“I would like to recognise the bravery of the officers involved in the pursuit and subsequent collision on the A1.
“While three officers have been able to return to duty, four of our colleagues remain off work – and I wish them all the best in their recovery.
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“They were simply doing their job, protecting the public from the actions of someone who was not even qualified or insured to drive.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour, and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice and ensuring our roads as safe as possible.”
Man leaving court after car crash.
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Azarbonyad admitted to dangerous drivingCredit: NNP
A severely damaged police car on a highway following a multi-vehicle collision.
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One of the police cars had its roof ripped offCredit: PA
A1 highway multi-vehicle collision scene with emergency responders and damaged cars.
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The officers were treated for non-life threatening injuriesCredit: PA
Wreckage of multiple police cars and civilian vehicles involved in a motorway collision.
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Azarbonyad's BMW was left mangled in the crash
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