Ex-Marine faces jail for driving into parade of Liverpool fans

AN ex-Royal Marine Commando heard yesterday he faces a lengthy jail sentence after admitting ploughing into a street of terrified fans at a Liverpool FC victory parade.

- BY CHRIS RICHES

Paul Doyle, 54, made a shock U-turn in court and wept as he admitted all 31 charges against him.

The married dad of three injured 134 people when he drove his two-tonne Ford Galaxy Titanium into fans on Water Street in the city centre, which had been closed to traffic.

The 29 victims on the indictment were aged between six months and 77 years old.

Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald, of Merseyside Police, said: "It is only by sheer luck that nobody was killed. In just seven minutes his dangerous driving meant that his car collided with more than 100 people, including children, causing serious injuries."

Doyle switched his pleas to guilty just seconds before the case was opened to a Liverpool Crown Court jury. The counts included dangerous driving, affray, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, 17 of attempted GBH with intent and three of wounding with intent.

Doyle sobbed uncontrollably as he muttered "guilty" as the indictment was put to him.