Mazyar Azarbonyad A1 police chase incident has taken a serious legal turn, as the 20-year-old personal trainer from Stanley, County Durham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and driving without a licence or insurance. The crash, which occurred on April 9 following a high-speed pursuit, resulted in a major collision that left seven officers injured and five police vehicles damaged.
Azarbonyad appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, where he admitted the offences. Magistrates granted him conditional bail, barring him from driving and enforcing a curfew from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. He is scheduled for sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court on May 20.
The Pursuit and Crash
According to prosecutors, the incident began when police attempted to stop Azarbonyad’s BMW in Swalwell, Gateshead, due to a faulty rear light. However, he sped off. Officers later spotted the vehicle heading toward the A1 near Denton roundabout, the same location where gunman Raoul Moat shot officer David Rathband in 2010.
During the pursuit, Azarbonyad eventually slowed down and signaled to police, but an unmarked Volvo police car, traveling at around 80mph, collided with his vehicle. The crash triggered a domino effect, involving other police cars and leading to multiple injuries.
Azarbonyad’s date—a woman he had just met—was inside the vehicle during the crash. He later told officers that he panicked upon seeing police because he had no insurance and the woman mentioned possessing cannabis.
Continued Driving While on Bail
Remarkably, just two days after the crash, Azarbonyad was seen driving again—this time in a red Hyundai—despite being warned not to drive and still lacking a licence or insurance. Police arrested him on a garage forecourt after spotting him refueling. He later admitted to driving on April 11, 12, 13, and 15 to get to his job at a gym in Newcastle.
Prosecutor Simon Worthy criticized Azarbonyad’s disregard for the law, noting, “One would have thought common sense would prevail after such a serious event, especially given the media coverage.” He accused Azarbonyad of “sticking two fingers up” at the justice system.
Defence and Background
Defence solicitor Jack Lovell described his client as a self-employed personal trainer with no previous convictions. Azarbonyad, who arrived in the UK from Iran at the age of 15 or 16, has lived independently without support since adulthood.
Lovell acknowledged that Azarbonyad acted “very foolishly” and expressed genuine remorse for his actions. He noted that Azarbonyad panicked during the initial encounter with police, which led to the pursuit and eventual crash. Still, he emphasized that his client slowed down and attempted to signal compliance before the impact.
What’s Next
Magistrates released Azarbonyad on strict bail conditions and warned him of the seriousness of the offences. With seven officers hospitalized and multiple vehicles wrecked, his sentencing next month will determine the legal consequences of one of the region’s most high-profile police chases in recent memory.
