Why a1 danger driver who left police officers injured only got 14 months custody

MAZYAR AZARBONYAD, OF STANLEY, CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC CRASH ON THE A1 IN NEWCASTLE AFTER DOING AN EMERGENCY STOP DURING A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT 16:03, 02 Jun 2025 A judge who sentenced a danger

driver who left several police officers injured was restricted in how long he could lock him up for by sentencing guidelines set by Parliament. Despite leaving seven officers injured and

causing regional traffic chaos in a "catastrophic collision" on the A1, after doing an emergency stop during a pursuit on the A1 in which he reached speeds of more than 120mph,

Mazyar Azarbonyad was given just 14 months in custody, of which he will serve up to 40% behind bars. Judge Tim Gittins had queried why prosecutors had not charged the 20-year-old, of Sylvia

Terrace, Stanley, County Durham, with the more serious offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was told it was because the level of injuries suffered by the officers did

not meet the necessary threshold for such a charge. As a consequence, instead of facing a maximum sentence of five years for the more serious charge, the highest sentence which can be

imposed for dangerous driving is two years. This then has to be reduced for a guilty plea, which, when entered at the earliest opportunity, as in Azarbonyad's case, is a reduction of

one third, following which the judge then has to take into account mitigating factors. Judge Gittins said: "In determining the appropriate sentence, I am bound to have regard to

Sentencing Council guidelines in relation to the offences themselves. But also overarching guides in relation to credit for plea, totality, the imposition of custodial and community

sentences and to have some measured regard to that relating to sentencing of young people. "It is important to make clear to anyone reporting or hearing about this case that they

understand that the maximum sentence after a trial for dangerous driving, where no serious injury has been alleged to be caused, is set by Parliament at two years custody, whatever the level

of harm that flows from it. In addition, offences of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, no insurance, failing to stop are all non-imprisonable, no matter how blatant or

often they are committed." Article continues below The judge added: "By itself, it is difficult to imagine a worse single offence of dangerous driving, without serious injury or

death resulting, with such a combination of high culpability and the highest level of harm. The inevitable conclusion is that, by itself, after a trial and without considering any

mitigation, it would result in the maximum permitted by law for an adult. "But I am bound to consider the following specific areas of mitigation. Your personal circumstances from the

age of 14 years and how you came to be in the country; the lack of any serious offending previously; your employment record; your still relatively young age and separately, that you have not

reached full maturity of an adult, as identified by the guidelines, albeit the latter is more limited as you are not a youth. Most significantly, your guilty pleas, requiring a maximum

reduction of one-third from the appropriate sentence after trial. "I am then bound to go on to consider factors that may indicate that it is appropriate to impose a community based

penalty or a suspended sentence of custody. Regrettably, the prospect of rehabilitation, whilst still present, is diminished by your persistent failure to abide by basic road traffic laws in

the aftermath of the dramatic events of April 9. "But, in any event, it is overwhelmingly the case that the gravity of your dangerous driving demands an immediate sentence of custody.

Had you had a trial, the sentence would have been 21 months. Giving you such credit for plea as appropriate, the sentence is 14 months in a young offenders institution. "You are likely

to serve 40% of that sentence before being released conditionally. If you do not abide by the conditions or commit any further offences, you may be returned to serve the balance of the

custodial term." Gym worker Azarbonyad was taking a woman home after their first date in April when the offending happened. as he drove a BMW X5 despite only having a provisional

driving licence, no insurance, eight points on his licence and having only had three driving lessons. When police spotted him speeding and with a defective light and missing number plate,

they tried to pull him over. After initially appearing to comply and stopping, he told his date "nah" and made off at speed as the officer approached on foot. He then later failed

to pull over a second time, leading to a high speed pursuit on the A1 in Newcastle, with tactical pursuit officers chasing him. Newcastle Crown Court heard that as they sought to contain

him, he gave up the chase but slammed on the brakes in an emergency stop, going from 119mph to a standstill within metres. One of the pursuing police cars failed to stop in time, colliding

heavily with the vehicles in front of him which had stopped, the court heard. The collision left several police officers unconscious and injured, caused extensive damage to police vehicles

and led to "regional traffic chaos and misery". Article continues below Azarbonyad admitted dangerous diving, two counts of failing to stop, driving otherwise than in accordance

with a licence and having no insurance, along with further offences of driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and having no insurance in subsequent days.