Man on first date when he caused pile-up trying to escape police
A personal trainer on a first date put seven police officers in hospital when he caused a six-car pile-up on the A1 when trying to escape police - and has now admitted to dangerous driving, a court heard today. Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, of the town of Stanley, County Durham, was driving on the route near the Gateshead and Newcastle border at around 2.30am on April 9 when the smash happened.He was taking a woman home from a first date in a powerful BMW when he was pursued by police, before the crash involving five police vehicles and a car. He appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court today where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash. Following his guilty pleas, he was granted conditional bail ahead of his sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court next month. Shocking images show a battered car on its side next to the central reservation, while debris from the destroyed police cars was strewn across the width of the carriageway. The Iran-born defendant, who came to the UK in around 2020, also admitted a series of other driving offences, including driving without insurance and a licence several times after the horrific collision. A woman in her 20s was released with no further action to be taken in relation to her arrest on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving - but she was released on police bail for suspected drug possession offences, pending further inquiries. Mazyar Azarbonyad (pictured, leaving court), 20, of the town of Stanley, County Durham, was driving on the route near the Gateshead and Newcastle border at around 2.30am on April 9 when the smash happened He was taking a woman home from a first date when he was pursued by police. Pictured: A severely damaged police car at the scene of the crash The crash (pictured, the aftermath) involved five police vehicles and a car – and saw seven officers injuredPolice initially tried to stop Azarbonyad in the village of Swalwell, Gateshead, as one of his rear lights was defective - but he sped away. He was later seen approaching the A1 and was pursued before the serious collision near the Denton roundabout, where, in 2010, ex-prisoner and then-fugitive Raoul Moat shot PC David Rathband, leaving him blind. The driver was granted bail, pending a court appearance, after he was questioned about the incident - during which he told officers his driving had been 'sh*t'. But just two days later, he was back behind the wheel, driving a red Hyundai i10 to work at a gym in Newcastle city centre four times. This came despite his lack of licence or insurance - and his bail conditions telling him not to drive. Police saw him on a garage forecourt filling his vehicle up with fuel and arrested Azarbonyad - before he told them about other times he had driven since the crash.Prosecutor Simon Worthy said: '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, having been so lucky to get out of an accident only two days before.'But no, no, you continue to stick two fingers up.' Shocking images show a battered car on its side next to the central reservation (pictured) Debris from the destroyed police cars was strewn all over the width of the carriageway (pictured) One particularly badly damaged police vehicle (pictured) was almost completely crushed, with several of its doors having fallen off The Iran-born defendant, who came to the UK in around 2020, also admitted a series of other driving offences. Pictured: The aftermath of the crash On the night of the collision, Azarbonyad had eventually slowed down after being surrounded by police vehicles. But then, Mr Worthy said, another unmarked police car coming from behind collided with them. Azarbonyad's lawyer Jack Lovell said his client was a self-employed personal trainer at a gym in Newcastle, did not claim benefits and had no previous convictions. He was supported after coming to the UK from Iran aged 15 or 16 - but that stopped when he became an adult and he has lived independently and alone. Mr Lovell said the defendant had shown genuine remorse. He also openly admitted to driving the Hyundai to work and was 'very foolish' to get back behind the wheel. When Azarbonyad came to the police's attention on the night of the crash, the solicitor said: 'He tells me at that point it is immediate panic.' This was because, he explained, his client was aware he had no insurance and that the woman in the car with him had mentioned being in 'possession of cannabis'. The defendant knew he should have pulled over immediately, Mr Lovell said, but after getting on the A1 and driving some distance, he did slow down. He put his indicators on and gestured out of the window with his hand to show he was braking, the solicitor continued. The lawyer said a number of the police vehicles manoeuvred around the BMW and helicopter footage showed he was 'essentially at a stop'. Azarbonyad's lawyer Jack Lovell said his client was a self-employed personal trainer at a gym in Newcastle, did not claim benefits and had no previous convictions. Pictured: Azarbonyad leaving court today The defendant knew he should have pulled over immediately, Mr Lovell said, but after getting on the A1 and driving some distance, he did slow down. Pictured: The aftermath of the crash But then, a following unmarked police Volvo, which had earlier reached speeds of 135mph, collided with them at around 80mph. Mr Lovell said: 'From there, there is something of a domino effect, it flips over and then the other police vehicles are also involved.' He continued: 'I am not in any way trying to excuse - he should not have been driving the vehicle, it is his driving that has led to the incident on the A1.'He accepts that by way of his guilty plea.'Chairman of the Bench Philip Hutchinson granted Azarbonyad bail, on condition he does not get behind the wheel of any vehicle and that he abides by a 10pm-8am curfew to stay at his address.He will be sentenced on May 20 at Newcastle Crown Court.Officers were chasing the dark grey BMW near the Derwent Haugh Road junction of the A1 last Wednesday when the 'absolute carnage' occurred. One particularly badly damaged police vehicle had its roof torn off and was almost completely crushed, with several of its doors having fallen off. The lawyer said a number of the police vehicles manoeuvred around the BMW and helicopter footage showed he was 'essentially at a stop'. Pictured: The aftermath of the crash Chairman of the Bench Philip Hutchinson granted Azarboyad (pictured, leaving court) bail, on condition that he does not get behind the wheel of any vehicle and that he abides by a 10pm-8am curfew to stay at his addressThe smash triggered a large-scale emergency response, with the fire service having to remove the roof from at least one police vehicle to get inside.Seven officers were taken to hospital with what Northumbria Police described as non-life threatening injuries. They have all since been discharged.A spokesman said the two occupants of a BMW, which was being pursued at the time, were uninjured.The horror pile-up closed the road for more than 12 hours, with glass and debris left scattered across all three lanes.A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said at the time: 'We received a call at 2.29am on Wednesday, April 9 to reports of a road traffic collision on the A1 northbound near Denton, Newcastle.'We dispatched five ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer, two crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who attended by road.'Five patients were transported to hospital for further treatment.'
