A man who used his car as a “weapon” to plough into more than 130 people at Liverpool FC’s victory parade has been jailed for 21 years and six months.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Paul Doyle, 54, drove at crowds “in a rage” after his “anger had completely taken hold of him” shortly before 18:00 BST on 26 May.
Judge Andrew Menary KC said the ex-Royal Marine, who stared straight ahead with no expression as he was sentenced, had generated “fear and panic”, and that his “disregard for human life defied ordinary understanding”.
He admitted 31 charges, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving and affray, with victims ranging from a six-month-old baby to a 77-year-old woman.
The married father of three was travelling into the city centre to collect friends from the parade when he “lost his temper” and drove his Ford Galaxy directly into supporters making their way home from the Premier League title celebrations, reports the BBC.
Dashcam footage from Doyle’s vehicle showed moments when fans were thrown onto the bonnet of his car or fell underneath as he accelerated down Water Street, which had been closed to traffic.
Doyle can be heard shouting “move” and swearing at the crowd, including after he hit a 10-year-old girl.
As he sat in a police van following the rampage, Doyle could be heard saying, “My life’s ruined now,” in police bodycam footage.
Judge Menary told Doyle as he sentenced him: “It is difficult, if not impossible, to convey in words alone the scene of devastation you caused.
“It shows you, quite deliberately, accelerating into groups of fans time and time again.
“You struck people head-on, knocked others onto the bonnet, drove over limbs, crushed prams, and forced those nearby to scatter in terror.”
Judge Menary continued: “You ploughed on at speed and over a considerable distance, violently knocking people aside or simply driving over them — person after person after person.
“You accelerated forwards and backwards repeatedly. Several victims became trapped beneath the vehicle as you continued to move it.
“Others were thrown into the air or propelled across the ground.”
He added that Doyle acted in an “inexplicable and undiluted fury” when he ploughed into more than 100 people in the space of two minutes, and was only stopped after a bystander managed to get inside the automatic vehicle and force its gear selector into park mode.
