Dangerous driver jailed for A1 collision

A dangerous learner driver who was arrested after a collision involving several police cars on the A1 has been jailed.

Mazyar Azarbonyad came to the attention of officers in the early hours of Wednesday, April 9.

He was spotted on Swalwell Bank in Gateshead at 1.50am, after the dark grey BMW had been observed driving at speed and had a defective headlight.

After being instructed to pull over, he initially stopped before driving off at speed as the officer approached his vehicle.

The car in question was later spotted on Whickham Front Street where it again made off from police and drove at excessive speeds through residential streets.

Specialist officers from the Force’s Roads Policing Unit were sent to the area and at 2.25am got behind the car where it reached speeds in excess off 120mph.

Just two minutes later a collision occurred near the Denton Interchange exit in Newcastle involving the BMW and five police vehicles.

Seven officers were taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged.

Azarbonyad, 20, and his female passenger were both uninjured.

He was arrested at the scene and later released on police bail with strict conditions including an interim driving ban.

Days later, officers received information that Azarbonyad was driving a red Hyundai i10 from his County Durham home to work in Newcastle city centre.

He was arrested on a garage forecourt in Stanley on Wednesday, April 16, after being caught filling up the vehicle.

Azarbonyad was subsequently charged with a string of motoring offences.

Appearing before magistrates in Newcastle the following day, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, two counts of fail to stop a motor vehicle when required by a constable, six counts of no insurance use, and six counts of driving otherwise than in accordance with licence.

Today (Monday), Azarbonyad, of Sylvia Terrace in Stanley, attended Newcastle Crown Court where a judge sentenced him to one year and two months in a young offender institution, and disqualified him from driving for three years and seven months.

The female passenger, aged in her 20s, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving but was later told she will face no further action in relation to this. She later received a caution for drug possession.

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.

“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 has expired, he must also sit an extended re-test should he ever wish to drive lawfully again in the future.