A 20-year-old driver has been sentenced following a police chase which led to seven police officers being hospitalised and a number of cars being damaged and strewn across a busy road.

Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, has been sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders institution after the horror smash two months ago.

In the early hours of April 9, a pile-up of police cars was seen on the A1 near Denton Burn, Newcastle, after Azarbonyad had been on a first date.

The personal trainer had previously admitted dangerous driving, as well as driving in the aftermath of the crash, despite being given an interim ban.

The A1 crash caused seven police officers to be hospitalised

The court was told that Azarbonyad and his female passenger had "evaded police" in a BMW before travelling on the A1, where the massive collision took place.

Images released in the aftermath of the crash showed badly damaged, and in some instances, crushed, police cars, with car parts scattered across the road.

The prosecutor reported that one female officer suffered damage to her knee and nerve damage to her back, causing her to be in hospital for three days.

They claimed that a number of officers were rendered unconscious, while a male officer suffered a cut to his head a whiplash.

Mazyar Azarbonyad arrived at Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing this morning

The driver will now be sent to a young offender institution for 14 months, while he will also be banned from driving for three years.

Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's difficult to imagine a worse single offence of dangerous driving without serious injury or death being caused."

The judge noted that the maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years in prison, before a discount can be applied for a guilty plea.

Commenting on the sentencing, Superintendent Billy Mulligan, of Northumbria Police, said: "It is sheer luck that Mazyar Azarbonyad did not kill anyone that day with his reckless actions.

Two people were arrested in connection to the crashPA

"What should have been a simple stop turned into him driving incredibly dangerously in a bid to get away from officers.

"He showed absolutely zero regard for the safety of anyone else that morning, and his decision-making behind the wheel put lives at risk."

Mulligan also praised the bravery of the officers involved in the high-speed pursuit, many of whom were injured.

The A1 was closed for most of the day following the incident