Latest news with #CourtneyRedfern
The Guardian
7 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Driver jailed for A1 crash that wrecked five police cars
A personal trainer who was on a first date when he caused a 'catastrophic collision' on the A1 that wrecked five police cars has been jailed for 14 months. A judge at Newcastle crown court on Monday told Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, it was 'nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities' in the incident that led to seven officers needing hospital treatment and caused traffic chaos across the north-east of England. The court heard that Azarbonyad failed to stop when pursued by police and at one point reached a speed of more than 120mph in his BMW X5. Courtney Redfern, who was being driven home by Azarbonyad after a date, told him several times to stop, according to Jolyon Perks, prosecuting. The barrister added: 'In her opinion, she thought he could have killed someone.' At an earlier hearing, Azarbonyad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving over the crash on the A1 near Denton Burn, Newcastle, in the early hours of 9 April. One police officer suffered soft tissue damage to her knee and nerve damage to her back, requiring her to remain in hospital for three days. Another needed stitches for a cut to his forehead. Dramatic pictures the following day showed wrecked police cars on one of the busiest stretches of road in the north east. Judge Tim Gittins said: 'It led to regional traffic chaos, misery for many travellers, not to mention the substantial loss of work and study hours for those that were caught up in the aftermath of what you caused.' Police wanted to stop Azarbonyad because he was driving over the speed limit and had defective rear lights. The court heard he had bought the vehicle on finance despite having a provisional driving licence, no insurance and later admitting to officers he had paid for only three driving lessons. The judge said: 'You should have been nowhere near the driving seat of any vehicle that night, let alone one such as a BMW X5, a large and powerful SUV.' Azarbonyad initially pulled over for police but when an officer approached his car on foot he said 'nah' and made off at speed, according to his passenger. When Azarbonyad was interviewed he described his driving as 'shit', but did not accept he braked harshly and said the police chasing him were travelling too fast, Perks told the court. In the days that followed his release on bail he continued to drive to the gym where he worked before he was arrested at a petrol station. Supt Billy Mulligan, of Northumbria police, said four of the seven officers who were injured in the crash remained off work. He added: 'It is sheer luck that Mazyar Azarbonyad did not kill anyone that day with his reckless actions.' The court heard that the defendant arrived in the UK after fleeing his home country Iran when he was 14 and settled in Stanley, County Durham.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Driver on first date jailed after he put SEVEN cops in hospital in huge pile-up while trying to escape officers
A DRIVER on a first date has been jailed after he put seven cops in hospital in a huge pile-up while trying to flee officers. Mazyar Azarbonyad was taking Courtney Redfern home in his powerful BMW on the A41 in Newcastle when police gave chase. 8 8 8 8 The 20-year-old smashed into five cop cars - leaving them destroyed - and wrecked his own car in the horror crash. Shocking photos showed the aftermath of the collision after one of the police cars had its roof torn off. Seven officers were taken to hospital for non-life threatening injuries, while Azarbonyad and his date were unharmed. The Iran-born personal trainer, who came to the UK in around 2020, has now been jailed for 14 months. He admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash. Azarbonyad also pleaded guilty to a string of other offences, including driving without insurance or a licence on several occasions after the crash. Newcastle Crown Court heard the horror unfolded on April 9 at around 2.30am. Police had initially tried to stop Azarbonyad in Gateshead as one of his rear lights was defective but he sped off. A high-speed chase ensued as the BMW driver made his way to the A1 surrounded by cop cars. He then "rapidly decelerated from 119mph" to stop in the middle of the carriageway - forcing the police to emergency brake. An unmarked police Volvo, which had earlier reached speeds of 135mph, then hit Azarbonyad and the other cars at about 80mph. Jack Lovell, for Azarbonyad, said: "From there, there is something of a domino effect - it flips over and then the other police vehicles are also involved." Mum-of-two reportedly begged Azarbonyad to stop during the pursuit. The pair miraculously managed to escape the wreckage without any major injuries. A female police officer suffered soft tissue injuries to her knee and nerve damage to her back and she was in hospital for three days. While a male officer was left with a cut to his head, concussion and whiplash. Following the crash, which shut the busy road for 12 hours, Azarbonyad got back behind the wheel just two days later - despite having no licence or insurance. He continued to drive on four further occasions after being told not to as part of his bail conditions. Simon Worthy, prosecuting, said: "One would have thought as a matter of common sense... that you would have been a bit more sensible about your activities, having been so lucky to get out of an accident only two days before. "But no, no, you continue to stick two fingers up." 8 8 8 8
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Personal trainer on first date when he caused A1 pile-up that left seven police officers in hospital is jailed
A personal trainer who put seven police officers in hospital following a 120mph crash while on the way home from a first date has been jailed. Mazyar Azarbonyad was giving Courtney Redfern a lift back in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in his BMW X5 series, when officers attempted to pull him over due to a faulty rear light.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- The Sun
Mum-of-two ‘recovering' after nightmare first date with driver who caused horror A1 crash that left 7 cops in hospital
A YOUNG mum is "recovering" after a nightmare first date with a driver who caused a horror pile-up during a police chase. Seven cops needed hospital treatment following the high-speed pursuit as personal trainer Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, attempted to flee - all with his date Courtney Redfern, 27, in the passenger seat. 8 8 8 8 Police pulled over Iranian-born Azarbonyad's BMW M5 in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in the early hours of April 9 as he drove home. Mum-of-two Courtney urged him to stop before he led cops on a pursuit through the town and onto the A1 towards Newcastle. Four police cars - with the support of a helicopter - were able to box in the BMW, bringing it to a halt. However, another unmarked police Volvo smashed into the stationary vehicles on the carriageway near the Derwent Haugh Road junction at 80mph at 2.27am. Courtney and Azarbonyad managed to come out of the crash with only minor injuries. Shocking pictures from the scene show the mangled police cars - as well as the unmarked black car on its side. None of the officers suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Northumbria Police. An unnamed source told the MailOnline: "There was a great deal of trauma for Courtney and her family as a result of what happened. "It was a first date and no one could have expected an outcome like that from what should have been an ordinary evening out. "It's fortunate that no one was killed when looking at the wreckage left behind, it was all anyone who saw it could talk about. "She's recovering but it was obviously a major shock." Appearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on April 19, Azarbonyad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash. He also admitted a series of other driving offences, including driving without insurance or a licence four times after the collision in breach of his bail conditions. He was due to be sentenced today over the crash but was the case was adjourned until June 2 after he contested a previous conviction. The court was told he accrued eight penalty points for driving with no licence or insurance on September 16 2023, but Azarbonyad claimed to have no knowledge of the conviction, reports the Mail. Azarbonyad was given bail on the condition he does not drive his vehicle. Courtney was also arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving but was later told she faced no further action. After the collision, Supt Michelle Caisley, from Northumbria Police, said: 'Firstly, we want to wish all the officers who have been involved in the collision a full recovery. 'We would also thank all those who attended the scene, including our colleagues from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service." Do you know more? Email 8 8 8 8
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Daily Mail
The woman who went on a first date with a personal trainer... before he put seven police officers in hospital
A woman found herself on a nightmare first date with a fitness instructor when it ended in a high-speed police chase and a smash that left seven police officers in hospital. Mom-of-two Courtney Redfern, 27, was on her first date with Mayzar Azarbonyad, 20, when cops tried to stop his powerful BMW M5 as he drove her home. Despite Courtney's protests, Azarbonyad put his foot down and led police on a terrifying pursuit through Gateshead and on to the A1M towards Newcastle in the UK. Supported from the air by a police helicopter, four police cars performed a tactical stop maneuver, boxing in Azarbonyad's car and bringing it to a halt. However, seconds later an unmarked police Volvo slammed into the cars at 80mph causing a scene described as 'carnage' by witnesses. Caught in the center of it was Courtney, who like her date, miraculously escaped without any major injuries. However a source said: 'There was a great deal of trauma for Courtney and her family as a result of what happened. 'It was a first date and no one could have expected an outcome like that from what should have been an ordinary evening out. 'It's fortunate that no one was killed when looking at the wreckage left behind. She's recovering but it was obviously a major shock.' To Courtney's horror she was arrested alongside Azarbonyad on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving. She was told she would face no further action, although she is still under investigation over whether she was in possession of cannabis at the time of the smash. She is not believed to have continued to see Azarbonyad. After a brief hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Azarbonyad simply gave a nervous laugh when asked whether he was still in touch with his date from the disastrous night of April 9. He was due to be sentenced over the smash but his case was adjourned after he contested a previous conviction. Newcastle Crown Court was told he accrued eight penalty points for driving with no licence or insurance on September 16 2023, but Azarbonyad claimed to have no knowledge of the conviction. His barrister Penny Hall said he did not remember committing the offenses and had not been to court in relation to them. Hall said: 'It is possible someone else may have given his details when stopped by the police.' Sentencing was adjourned until June 2 for the court to verify whether or not he committed the offenses. Judge Tim Gittens told the defendant: 'I am granting you bail but I am not giving you any indication of sentence. All options will be open to the court. 'Given the gravity of this offence that will be up to and including custody.' The 2.30am crash brought the usually busy stretch of the A1 to a standstill for more than 12 hours, with glass and debris left scattered across all three lanes. Officers were chasing the dark gray BMW near a junction when the 'absolute carnage' occurred. The smash triggered a large-scale emergency response, with the fire service having to remove the roof from at least one police vehicle to get inside. Seven officers were taken to hospital with what Northumbria Police described as non-life threatening injuries. Police initially tried to stop Azarbonyad in the village of Swalwell, Gateshead, as one of his rear lights was defective - but he sped away. When questioned, Azarbonyad told officers his driving had been 's***.' On the night of the collision, Azarbonyad had eventually slowed down after being surrounded by police vehicles. But Simon Worthy prosecuting said another unmarked police car coming from behind collided with them. Azarbonyad's lawyer Jack Lovell told the magistrates court his client was a self-employed personal trainer at a gym in Newcastle, and had no previous convictions. The defendant knew he should have pulled over immediately, Lovell said, but after getting on the A1 and driving some distance, he did slow down. He put his indicators on and gestured out of the window with his hand to show he was braking, the solicitor continued. The lawyer said a number of the police vehicles manoeuvred around the BMW and helicopter footage showed he was 'essentially at a stop'. But then, a following unmarked police Volvo, which had earlier reached speeds of 135mph, collided with them at around 80mph. Mr Lovell said: 'From there, there is something of a domino effect, it flips over and then the other police vehicles are also involved.' He continued: 'I am not in any way trying to excuse - he should not have been driving the vehicle, it is his driving that has led to the incident on the A1.
