What should have been a simple lift home after a first date turned into a night of chaos and destruction, leaving seven police officers in hospital and traffic at a standstill for hours.
It all started when 20-year-old personal trainer Mazyar Azarbonyad panicked and tried to flee from police in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
Azarbonyad had just finished a date with Courtney Redfern when officers noticed a faulty rear light on his BMW X5.
But instead of pulling over, he sped off—setting off a dangerous chain of events that ended with a terrifying crash on the A1 near Newcastle.
No Licence, No Insurance, and Just Three Driving Lessons
The court later heard that Azarbonyad had never had a proper licence, wasn’t insured, and had only taken three driving lessons in total.
Despite that, he was behind the wheel of a high-powered vehicle in the early hours of April 9.
Police initially tried to stop him for the faulty light, but he fled.
Roughly 30 minutes later, he was spotted again, but rather than pulling over, he sped off a second time—this time leading to a high-speed chase that reached terrifying speeds.
A Sudden Stop at 119mph Caused a Chain Reaction
As Azarbonyad approached the junction of the A186, he abruptly slammed the brakes—decelerating from 119mph to a complete stop in the middle of the carriageway.
The pursuing officers had no time to react, and five police vehicles ended up crashing into each other.
Seven officers were injured and had to be taken to hospital.
Some had to be cut out of their vehicles. While none suffered life-threatening injuries, several were left psychologically shaken.
The crash caused 14 hours of traffic disruption, leaving commuters stuck in what was described as “traffic chaos.”
A Pattern of Reckless Driving Even After the Crash
Amazingly, Azarbonyad wasn’t done. Despite the destruction he had caused, he was spotted driving again on April 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16—still with no licence or insurance.
He told authorities he needed the car to get to work.
This wasn’t his first time either. He already had a previous conviction for similar offences in 2023, which further highlighted his reckless disregard for the law.
Judge Delivers Strong Words and a Prison Sentence
At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Tim Gittins didn’t hold back.
He called the speed “hair-raising” and said it was “nothing short of a miracle” that no one died.
He added, “It is difficult to imagine a worse single offence of dangerous driving without serious injury or death being caused.”
Azarbonyad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving with no licence, and no insurance—as well as five additional driving offences for the days that followed.
He was sentenced to 14 months in prison and banned from driving for three years and seven months.
Passenger Told Him to Slow Down—But He Didn’t Listen
Courtney Redfern, the passenger during the crash, told officers she had repeatedly asked him to slow down and stop, describing the car as feeling “unsafe” and “wobbly” at high speeds.
Unfortunately, her warnings went ignored.
A Troubled Journey from Iran to the UK
Azarbonyad’s background was also brought up in court.
He arrived in the UK as a refugee from Iran at age 14, travelling with his uncle, whom he lost contact with along the way.
Since then, he has had no family support and spent time in the UK care system until he turned 18.
His lawyer argued that he now risks losing his tenancy and has limited support if sent to prison.
“Truly Remarkable” No One Was Killed, Says Prosecutor
Prosecutor Jolyon Perks summed it up clearly: the fact that no one was seriously hurt or killed was “truly remarkable.”
The whole pursuit was caught on dash cam and CCTV from a police helicopter, showing just how dangerous the chase became.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the risks posed by unlicensed drivers, and how one panicked decision behind the wheel can spiral into something life-threatening—not just for the driver, but for everyone around them.