Paul Doyle Pleads Guilty To Liverpool Parade Charges

Paul Doyle has pleaded blameworthy to ploughing his car into a dense crowd of supporters astatine nan Liverpool FC triumph parade.

The 54-year-old admitted vulnerable driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to origin grievous bodily harm (GBH) pinch intent, 9 counts of causing GBH pinch intent and 3 counts of wounding pinch intent.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it was an "act of calculated violence" erstwhile Doyle drove into nan crowd connected nan evening of nan 26 May, injuring much than 130 people.

The father-of-three, of Croxteth, Liverpool, sat pinch his caput down and sobbed arsenic he changed his pleas connected nan 2nd time of his proceedings astatine Liverpool Crown Court.

Thousands of Liverpool fans were successful nan metropolis connected nan time of Doyle's onslaught to watch nan parade, which started astatine 14:30 BST connected 26 May.

The squad autobus had travelled down The Strand, which passes nan extremity of Water Street, earlier nan incident and nan parade was coming to a close, pinch supporters heading home.

More than 130 group reported injuries aft Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into crowds connected Water Street conscionable aft 18:00.

He was arrested astatine nan segment and charged later that week.

• Recap: Paul Doyle changes his pleas connected nan 2nd time of his trial

A assemblage was sworn successful for his proceedings connected Tuesday but he changed his pleas earlier arsenic nan prosecution lawsuit was owed to beryllium opened.

The charges subordinate to 29 group aged betwixt six months and 77 years.

Doyle, a erstwhile Royal Marine, was successful tears astatine a number of pre-trial hearings erstwhile he appeared complete videolink from prison.

He was supported successful tribunal by family members erstwhile he appeared earlier.

The Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC told Doyle it was "inevitable" he would beryllium facing a custodial condemnation "of immoderate length".

A two-day sentencing proceeding was group for 15 and 16 December astatine nan aforesaid court.

Sarah Hammond, main crown charismatic for nan Crime Prosecution Service, said Doyle had yet accepted that he intentionally drove into crowds of guiltless people.

"Dashcam footage from Doyle's conveyance shows that arsenic he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became progressively agitated by nan crowds," she said.

"Rather than hold for them to pass, he deliberately drove astatine them, forcing his measurement through.

"Driving a conveyance into a crowd is an enactment of calculated violence.

"This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle — it was a prime he made that time and it turned ceremony into mayhem."

In May, Merseyside Police said they believed Doyle had followed an ambulance connected to Water Street aft a roadworthy artifact was temporarily lifted for crews to be to a personification having a bosom attack.

Det Ch Insp John Fitzgerald said it was only "by sheer luck that cipher was killed because of Doyle's reckless actions".

"In conscionable 7 minutes his vulnerable driving meant that his car collided pinch much than 100 people, including children, successful immoderate cases trapping group underneath and causing superior injuries.

"What should person been a time of ceremony for nan metropolis turned into a distressing and frightening acquisition which we cognize continues to person a beingness and psychological effect connected galore people."