'Miracle' no one killed after police pursuit

A LEARNER driver who caused a horrific crash involving five police cars after a 120mph pursuit was sentenced yesterday.

- BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG

Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, was on a first date when he went from 119mph to 0mph "in a matter of metres" after braking suddenly.

Courtney Redfern, 26, begged Azarbonyad, who only had three driving lessons, to slow down believing he was going to kill someone.

Judge Tim Gittins hit out at his speeding and sudden halt "causing a catastrophic collision".

He told the personal trainer: "You should have not have been anywhere near the driving seat of any vehicle let alone a BMW M5."

At Newcastle crown court, the judge added: "It is nothing short of a miracle no one was seriously injured and there were not multiple fatalities."

Azarbonyad was yesterday sentenced to 14 months in a young offender institution. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving following the crash.