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An ex- Royal Marines Commando acted as a “man in a rage” when he drove into dozens of LFC supporters during a victory parade, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, a court has heard.

“The footage was truly shocking.”

Victims of Paul Doyle wept as dashcam footage depicted bodies spinning through the air while he sped towards the gathering while screaming: “Get out of the way!”

The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday following his guilty plea on the first day of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges involving 21 adults and eight children.

‘A Man in a Rage’

The prosecution warned those in court that the footage from Doyle’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the parent shouting “expletives” and “fucking move” as he drove towards hundreds of fans, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

It was stated in court that Doyle acted as a “man in a rage had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Extent of the Injuries

In total, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – with over fifty who needed hospital treatment. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.

One fan, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration to the back of his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.

The defendant was heard screaming “for God’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, lawyers said approximately a million individuals were present at “an event they believed to be a day of joyfulness” to celebrate Liverpool winning their 20th league title. The celebratory atmosphere swiftly became “horror”, the prosecutor said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans as he attempted to pick up a friend from the parade route.

“Some at the scene thought that the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by a former soldier, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Despite this, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, according to evidence.

In his police interview, Doyle stated he acted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, the prosecution argued that the dashcam footage showed Doyle “just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and as he did so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

The video showed Doyle was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He ignored traffic diversion measures and weaved around other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.

The defendant is expected to receive a prison sentence of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.