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A personal trainer who admitted to driving dangerously after seven police officers were injured in a car crash has been sentenced to 14 months at a young offenders' institution.

Mazyar Azarbonyad, of Syliva Terrace in Stanley, County Durham, admitted to a series of driving offences after an incident on the A1 in which his BMW was pursued by police.

Officers had initially tried to stop the 20-year-old because a rear light was defective, but he sped away, with the chase continuing until a serious collision near junction 75 at the Denton

roundabout. Five police vehicles were badly damaged and seven officers required hospital treatment during the April 9 incident.

He was given a 14-month sentence in a young offenders institution today and has been banned from driving for three years after Newcastle Crown Court heard it was a "miracle that no one was

seriously injured".

Penny Hall, mitigating for Azarbonyad, said he had "panicked" when his passenger Courtney Redfern told him that she had some drugs with her and that had resulted in him leaving the scene at

speed.Police dashcam footage showed that all the vehicles had managed to stop on the A1 apart from the one which collided with the back of his vehicle at speed, she added. But her client

accepted that the collision had been caused by his dangerous driving up to that point.

She had asked for his sentence be suspended so that he could work under the guidance of the probation service.

Northumbria Police have said it is "sheer luck" Azarbonyad didn't kill anyone in the incident on April 9, with Superintendent Billy Mulligan branding his actions "reckless".

The Superintendent 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.

"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."

Once Azarbonyad’s disqualification period of three years and seven months has expired, he must also sit an extended retest should he ever wish to drive lawfully again in the future.

The court heard that the defendant had only had three driving lessons and should not have been driving on the night as he did not have a full licence.

Azarbonyad has been handed a 14-month sentence in a young offenders institution.

The court heard that Courtney, of Gateshead, was begging him to stop as he reached speeds of 120mph with the police cars in pursuit. He then pulled up in an emergency stop, going from 119

mph to stop with a police vehicle colliding with the back of the vehicle.

He was also banned from driving for three years. He was due to be sentenced last month but his case was adjourned for checks on his driving record. The court heard today that he did have

eight points on his licence for driving without insurance after being convicted in 2024.

Jack Lovell who represented Azarbonyad in court during his previous experience, said he moved to the UK as a teen.

He emigrated to the country from Iran when he was aged 15 or 16. The court also heard he has no previous convictions.

Azarbonyad has admitted to driving dangerously and other charges related to the April 9 incident.

He has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash. He has also admitted to driving despite having been handed an

interim ban in the days following the incident.

Azarbonyad has arrived at Newcastle Crown. Pictures from photographers stationed outside the courthouse show he is dressed in workout gear.

Azarbonyad's sentencing this morning comes after a delay to court proceedings, with his sentence initially meant to have been delivered on May 20.

Newcastle Crown Court postponed sentencing until today in order for his driving record to be investigated.

A mum-of-two whose first date ended in a horror A1 crash resulting in seven police officers rushed to hospital has been pictured for the first time. Courtney Redfern, 27, was being dropped

off at her home by fitness coach Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, after their first date on April 9, when cops tried to stop his BMW M5.

The young mum, from Newcastle, pleaded with her date to pull over, but despite her protests, Azarbonyad put his foot down and led officers on a shocking high-speed pursuit through Gateshead

and the A1 towards Newcastle.

Woman whose first date ended in A1 horror crash with multiple cop cars pictured

The court heard that Azarbonyad was back behind the wheel, driving a red Hyundai on April 11, 12, 13 and 15 to get to work at a gym in Newcastle, despite being warned not to drive and having

no licence or insurance.