A 20-year-old personal trainer has admitted to dangerous driving after a dramatic high-speed police chase on the A1 which ended in a crash injuring seven police officers and damaging five police vehicles — only to get back behind the wheel two days later to drive to work.
Mazyar Azarbonyad, of Sylvia Terrace, Stanley, County Durham, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to a string of offences including dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.
The incident took place in the early hours of 9 April, when Azarbonyad was taking a woman out on a first date. He was driving a powerful BMW which police initially attempted to stop in Swalwell, Gateshead, after noticing a defective rear light. Rather than pulling over, Azarbonyad sped away, initiating a major pursuit which ended near junction 75 at the Denton roundabout – the same location where PC David Rathband was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat in 2010.
The chase led officers towards Newcastle, and as the BMW slowed with police vehicles surrounding it, a high-speed unmarked Volvo collided into the scene at around 80mph, having earlier reached speeds of 135mph. The crash triggered a domino effect, damaging multiple vehicles and leaving officers requiring hospital treatment.
In a statement to police, Azarbonyad later admitted his driving had been “shit”. Following questioning, he was granted police bail.
Yet astonishingly, just two days later, the defendant was seen driving again — this time a red Hyundai, which he used on 11, 12, 13 and 15 April to get to his work as a personal trainer at a Newcastle gym. He was again uninsured and unlicensed.
Prosecutor Simon Worthy told the court: “One would have thought as a matter of common sense that having been involved in something of this seriousness, plastered all over the press, the TV, the newspapers, online, that you would have been a bit more sensible about your activities. But no – you continue to stick two fingers up.”
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Police finally apprehended Azarbonyad when they spotted him filling up at a garage forecourt. Upon arrest, he made full admissions, even volunteering details of the dates he had driven post-crash.
Defending, Jack Lovell told the court that Azarbonyad had come to the UK from Iran at the age of 15 or 16, and had been living independently since reaching adulthood. He works as a self-employed personal trainer, does not claim benefits, and had no previous convictions.
Mr Lovell described the defendant’s decision to drive again so soon after the crash as “very foolish”, and said Azarbonyad had shown genuine remorse.
On the night of the A1 incident, Mr Lovell said Azarbonyad had panicked upon being signalled to stop, aware he had no valid documents. The woman accompanying him had allegedly made reference to having cannabis, which further heightened his panic.
Azarbonyad was said to have slowed and indicated his intention to stop by gesturing out of the window, but was still struck from behind by a police vehicle. Mr Lovell clarified: “He was essentially at a stop.”
Despite these circumstances, Mr Lovell accepted that Azarbonyad’s poor decision-making had directly led to the collision.
Chairman of the Bench Philip Hutchinson granted him conditional bail with a curfew from 10pm to 8am, and a strict condition not to drive any vehicle.
Azarbonyad is due to be sentenced on 20 May at Newcastle Crown Court.
