Man ‘on first date’ admits dangerous driving after crash involving five police cars on A1

19/04/2025 1

A 20-year-old man has admitted dangerous driving after seven officers were injured in a crash involving five police vehicles and a car.

Personal trainer Mazyar Azarbonyad was taking a woman home after a first date when the crash occurred on the A1 on Tyneside in the early hours of 9 April, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard.

He appeared at court on Saturday to admit a series of driving offences, including driving without insurance several times after the crash.

Azarbonyad, who was driving a powerful BMW, failed to stop after police had concerns over how the vehicle was being driven in the Whickham area of Gateshead.

Pictures of the scene showed the BMW and debris strewn across the road. One of the police cars had its roof torn off.

The collision led to major delays as the road was closed.

The seven police officers have all now been discharged from hospital.

After the crash, Azarbonyad was granted bail that included conditions telling him not to drive.

He told the court that just days after the crash he drove on four occasions between 11 and 15 April to get to work at a gym in Newcastle, despite being warned not to drive and having no licence or insurance.

Prosecutor Simon Worthy told the court he thought the defendant would have been “a bit more sensible” about his actions, adding: “But no, you continue to stick two fingers up.”

BMW was ‘essentially at a stop’

Defending, solicitor Jack Lovell, told the court the defendant had shown genuine remorse for his actions.

He said he had been “very foolish” to get back behind the wheel after the crash, but had made full and further admissions about driving to work.

Mr Lovell added that Azarbonyad had panicked after catching the attention of police on the night of the crash, as he was aware he had no insurance and the woman had made reference to being in “possession of cannabis”.

“The defendant knew he should have pulled over immediately,” Mr Lovell said, adding that after getting on the A1 he did eventually slow down, put his indicators on and gestured out of the window with his hand to show he was braking, the court heard.

Mr Lovell said helicopter footage shows the BMW was “essentially at a stop” when an unmarked police Volvo, which had earlier reached speeds of 135mph, collided with the back of the car at around 80mph.

“From there, there is something of a domino effect, it flips over and then the other police vehicles are also involved,” Mr Lovell said.

“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.”

Northumbria Police said a woman in her 20s would face no further action in relation to her arrest on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.

However, she was bailed over suspected drug possession offences.

Azarbonyad was granted conditional bail and is due to be sentenced on 20 May at Newcastle Crown Court.

Written by: Pippa Taylor

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