Personal trainer admits causing huge crash on A1

A PERSONAL trainer who was taking a woman out on a first date has admitted dangerous driving after a huge crash following a police pursuit on the A1.

- TOM WILKINSON

Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, of Sylvia Terrace, Stanley, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court yesterday to plead guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash on April 9.

He was granted conditional bail by magistrates ahead of his sentencing next month.

Five police vehicles were badly damaged and seven officers required hospital treatment after the early-morning crash.

Azarbonyad was driving a powerful BMW which police initially tried to stop in Swalwell, Gateshead, as a rear light was defective, but he sped away.

He was seen later approaching the A1 and was pursued before the serious collision occurred near the Denton roundabout, where Raoul Moat shot PC David Rathband in 2010.

Iran-born Azarbonyad was granted police bail after he was questioned about the incident on the A1, during which he told officers his driving had been "sh*t".

But just two days later, he was back behind the wheel, driving a red Hyundai on April 11, 12, 13 and 15 to get to work at a gym in Newcastle, despite being warned not to drive and having no licence or insurance.