A former businessman has admitted to a terrifying rampage during Liverpool Football Club's victory parade, leaving more than 100 spectators injured in what prosecutors have labelled an act of 'calculated violence'.
Guilty Plea Entered in Court
Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old married father-of-three from Croxteth, Liverpool, changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The defendant, who appeared in a black suit with slicked-back hair and glasses, was reported to be sobbing and shaking as he admitted to the 31 charges against him.
The charges include dangerous driving and 26 counts of causing or attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. The incident occurred on May 26 as crowds were dispersing from the celebratory event, with Doyle's dangerous driving lasting approximately seven minutes.
A Deliberate Act of Violence
Prosecutors outlined a case of intentional aggression rather than a simple accident. Chief Crown prosecutor Sarah Hammond stated that dashcam footage showed Doyle becoming agitated by the crowds and making a conscious decision to drive directly into them.
Rather than waiting for the pedestrians to pass, he 'deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through'. Hammond emphasised that using a vehicle as a weapon in this manner against a crowd constituted a serious act of premeditated violence.
Widespread Impact on Victims
The consequences of Doyle's actions were severe and far-reaching. The victims' ages ranged from a six-month-old baby to a 77-year-old elderly person, demonstrating the indiscriminate nature of the attack.
In a particularly distressing detail, the six-month-old infant was thrown approximately 15 feet in their pram, with Doyle admitting to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to the baby. Merseyside Police highlighted that it was 'by sheer luck' that no fatalities occurred, given the seriousness of the injuries and the fact that people became trapped beneath Doyle's vehicle.
Background and Sentencing
Doyle, who was reportedly in the city to collect a friend and his family from the celebrations, now faces a significant prison term. Judge Andrew Menary KC warned that a custodial sentence of 'some length' was inevitable.
The defendant is scheduled to return to Liverpool Crown Court for a two-day sentencing hearing on December 15.
Doyle's background includes service as a former Royal Marine and involvement with two dissolved businesses found on Companies House: RunCool Limited and FarOut Caps, an online hat retailer. His digital footprint reveals an interest in cryptocurrency, with his X account (under the name FarOutCaps) heavily promoting SafeMoon.
This connection is notable as SafeMoon's chief executive was convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering just days before the Liverpool parade incident. Doyle's social media activity also shows he followed controversial figures including Andrew Tate, Nigel Farage, and Elon Musk.
