Driver Who Injured SEVEN Police Officers and Wrote Off Five Police Vehicles in 120mph Crash Jailed for JUST 14 Months
Despite a 120mph pursuit, seven injured officers, and five destroyed police cars, the driver is expected to serve just seven months behind bars.
A man who caused a high-speed crash that left seven police officers in hospital and destroyed five police vehicles has been sentenced to just 14 months in prison, prompting widespread anger over what many see as a dangerously lenient sentence.
Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, was behind the wheel of a BMW X5 M Sport on 9 April when he was involved in a pursuit with Northumbria Police on the A1 near Newcastle. Despite having no licence or insurance, and having taken only three driving lessons, Azarbonyad fled from officers who had attempted to pull him over due to a faulty rear light.
The vehicle was later seen in the Swalwell area, and a pursuit was authorised after he again failed to stop. Reaching speeds of up to 120mph, Azarbonyad suddenly decelerated and brought the BMW to a stop in the middle of the live carriageway. The abrupt stop triggered a multi-vehicle collision as five pursuing police vehicles were unable to avoid impact.
Seven roads policing officers were taken to hospital. Some had to be cut from their vehicles by fire crews.
All suffered non-life-threatening injuries but have been left psychologically affected, according to evidence heard in court. The crash scene left five marked police vehicles written off, debris strewn across the A1, and a section of the carriageway closed for 14 hours, causing major disruption during the morning rush hour.
The cost of replacing the specialist pursuit vehicles is expected to run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds—an expense ultimately borne by the taxpayer.
Azarbonyad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, two counts of failing to stop, and multiple counts of driving without a licence or insurance. He also admitted to driving offences on five separate dates after the crash, including April 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16—despite the incident being under investigation. The court heard he has a previous conviction for similar offending in 2023.
Azarbonyad, originally from Iran, arrived in the UK around 2020 and was granted leave to remain by the Home Office as a refugee.
Judge Tim Gittins, sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, described Azarbonyad’s driving as “hair-raising,” stating:
“It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities. It is difficult to imagine a worse single offence of dangerous driving without serious injury or death being caused.”
Despite this, Azarbonyad was jailed for just 14 months and disqualified from driving for just three years and seven months. Under standard sentencing rules, he is likely to serve only half of his custodial sentence before being released on licence.
The woman who had been in the car with Azarbonyad on the night of the crash, Courtney Redfern, told police she had repeatedly asked him to slow down and described the car as feeling “unsafe” and “wobbly.”
She has not been charged in relation to the crash but was arrested separately on suspicion of drug possession and released on police bail.
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Dashcam and helicopter footage captured the pursuit, which showed Azarbonyad driving at speeds well in excess of 100mph before slamming on the brakes without warning.
The judge acknowledged the severe danger Azarbonyad posed to the public and emergency services, but with the maximum sentence for dangerous driving capped at two years, and reduced due to an early guilty plea, the final custodial term has left many questioning whether current sentencing guidelines are fit for purpose.
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Good job he didn’t post anything on the Internet !
Gosh, 14 likely 7 months & his licence back in 3 years, he must be shaking in his boots!
As will police officers & public when this scum bag gets his freedom early ‘26.
Justice? Pathetic, no wonder morale continues to decline.