Courtney Redfern’s First Date Ends in Horror as Mazyar Azarbonyad Sparks 120mph Police Chase

A 20-year-old personal trainer, Mazyar Azarbonyad, has been jailed after a 120mph police chase ended in a major crash that injured seven police officers and caused chaos on the A1 motorway.

Azarbonyad, who had no licence or insurance, was driving a BMW X5 after a first date with Courtney Redfern when officers tried to stop him for a faulty rear light in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

Instead of stopping, he sped off, sparking a high-speed chase that ended in a multi-vehicle collision near Newcastle. The road was shut for 14 hours following the incident on April 9, bringing traffic to a standstill for thousands of commuters.

Key Facts:

• Speed: Reached 119mph before slamming on the brakes

• Injured: 7 police officers hospitalized (psychologically affected but no critical injuries)

• Damage: 5 police vehicles involved

• Charges: Dangerous driving, failing to stop (twice), driving without a licence or insurance

• Sentence: 14 months in prison and 3 years, 7 months driving ban

“A Miracle No One Died” – Judge

Judge Tim Gittins called Azarbonyad’s driving “hair-raising” and said it was “nothing short of a miracle” that no one was killed.

“It’s hard to imagine a worse example of dangerous driving without fatalities,” the judge said.

Continued Offences After the Crash

Shockingly, Azarbonyad was caught driving five more times between April 11 and 16, just days after the crash, claiming he needed to get to work. He already had a previous conviction from 2023 for similar offences.

What the Victim Said

Passenger Courtney Redfern, who was on a first date with Azarbonyad, told police the car felt “wobbly and unsafe” and that she had asked him “several times to slow down.”

Background

Azarbonyad arrived in the UK from Iran in 2020 as a refugee at age 14. He lost contact with his uncle during the journey and has not seen any family since. He lived in the care system until 18 and now faces losing his home due to the jail sentence.

His lawyer, Penny Hall, said he has no support network and has struggled with life alone in the UK.