The woman who found herself on a horror first date with a man who put seven police officers in hospital after a high speed motorway chase ‘wishes it had never happened’.
Mother-of-two Courtney Redfern, 27, was being driven home on April 9 in Gateshead, Tyne by Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, in his BMW Five Series when officers attempted to pull him over due to a faulty rear light.
Despite Courtney’s protests, Iranian-born Azarbonyad – who had no licence or insurance – put his foot down and led police on a terrifying high speed pursuit through Gateshead and onto the A1M towards Newcastle.
Supported from above by the force helicopter, four police cars performed a tactical stop manoeuvre, boxing in Azarbonyad’s car and bringing it to a halt.
But seconds later an unmarked police Volvo slammed into the cars at 80mph, unaware they were stationary in the carriageway and causing a scene described as ‘carnage’ by witnesses.
Caught in the centre of it was Courtney, who like her date, miraculously escaped without any major injuries.
A source close to the 27-year-old today revealed that she wishes she had never been a part of the nightmare collision.
“[Courtney] wishes that it had never happened. She was caught up in this through no fault of her own,’ they told The Mirror.
The newspaper also reported today that Courtney had only met Azarbonyad the day before the horrific smash in April and that he had ‘panicked’ when she told him that she had drugs in her possession.
Another source close to Courtney last month told that she and her family had been left ‘traumatised’ by the ordeal.
They said: ‘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.’
Courtney was arrested alongside Azarbonyad on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving at the time.
The young mum from Newcastle was told she would face no further action, but later accepted a police caution for possession of cannabis for personal use.
Gym-goer Courtney, who in the past has run a pub in the Gateshead area, is not believed to have continued to see Azarbonyad after the collision.
At a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on May 25 Azarbonyad simply laughed when asked whether he was still in touch with his date from the disastrous night of April 9.
Earlier this month Azarbonyad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, two counts of failing to stop, having no licence and driving with no insurance.
He was jailed for 14 months with a three years and seven months road ban. The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years.
Judge Gittins said Azarbonyad’s speed reached a ‘hair raising’ level, adding: ‘It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities.
‘It is difficult to imagine a worse single offence of dangerous driving without serious injury or death being caused.’
Prosecutor Jolyon Perks told the court it was ‘truly remarkable’ nobody was seriously injured.
Mr Perks added: ‘He was pursued by a number of police vehicles with lights illuminated.
‘The lead police pursuit vehicle had dash cam footage which showed the defendant travelling in excess of 100mph and them approaching speeds of 120mph in an attempt to get away from the police.
‘As the defendant apporached the junction of the A186 he chose to abandon his attempt to escape but rapidly decelerated from 119mph to a complete stop in the middle of the carriageway.
‘As a consequence the pursuing police vehicles were forced to emergency brake in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid serious collision.
‘The collision was captured on CCTV footage from a police air support helicopter.’
The court heard that despite the devastation he caused on April 9, Azarbonyad was back behind the wheel on April 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, which he claimed was essential for him to get to work.
Penny Hall, defending, said Azarbonyad travelled from Iran to the UK with his uncle, who he lost contact with during the journey and has not seen any of his family since.
Miss Hall said Azarbonyad spent time in the care system until he reached 18 when he was assisted with getting a tenancy for his home, which he will lose if he goes to prison and has no real support.
Azarbonyad, who came to the UK from Iran aged 14, was granted leave to remain as a refugee.