Paul Doyle pleads guilty to deliberately driving into Liverpool victory parade crowds, injuring 134 people including children during Premier League celebration.
LONDON: A British man broke down in court as he dramatically changed his plea and admitted deliberately driving his car into crowds at Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade.
Paul Doyle, 54, had for months denied 31 criminal charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent, affray and dangerous driving.
Wearing a suit and glasses, he sobbed and stared at the floor as he repeatedly said “guilty” with a faltering voice to each count during his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Judge Andrew Menary said he would pass sentence over two days starting on December 15, telling Doyle to prepare for “a custodial sentence of some length”.
The maximum sentence for the most serious offences is life imprisonment.
Father-of-three Doyle, who has been in custody since his arrest, will remain in prison ahead of sentencing.
The defendant drove his nearly two-tonne Ford Galaxy Titanium into pedestrians as they were leaving the parade celebrating Liverpool Football Club’s victory on May 26.
He injured 134 people, including infants, other children and adults, according to Merseyside Police.
Although no one was killed, 50 people required hospital treatment.
Those targeted had been celebrating Liverpool claiming a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
Police swiftly declared that the incident was not terrorism-related.
Sarah Hammond, the Crown Prosecution Service’s top regional prosecutor, said dash-cam footage showed Doyle had become “increasingly agitated by the crowds”.
“Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through,” she added, calling it “an act of calculated violence”.
“This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle — it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem.”
The prosecution had planned to submit evidence showing he repeatedly swore and blasted his horn at pedestrians as he grew increasingly angry.
After hitting the first victims, he continued down another street and struck more people, reversing at one point and colliding with others as well as an ambulance.
Toddler Teddy Eveson was flung from his pram but was unhurt during the incident.
The car eventually stopped after several people including children became trapped beneath it.
A pedestrian jumped inside the vehicle and pushed its automatic transmission into park, helping bring it to a stop.
Prosecutors noted that Doyle had planned to contest the charges by arguing he was panicked and had feared for his life.
Merseyside Police Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald said it was “hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day”.
It was “only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle’s reckless actions,” he added.
A Liverpool FC spokesman said the club hoped Doyle’s conviction “brings some peace to all those affected by the horrific incident”. – AFP
