Liverpool parade attacker jailed for more than 21 years

An ex-Royal Marine with a violent past drove at crowds at Liverpool's victory parade in “undiluted fury” in a terrifying attack - and then lied to police that he had acted in fear of his own life.

- ALEX ROSS

Horrific dashcam footage from Paul Doyle's Ford Galaxy showed the 54-year-old use the 1.9-tonne vehicle as a weapon, knocking down more than 100 people at last May's football event.

When Doyle accelerated into the crowd, victims became trapped under the car, while others were thrown into the air or propelled across the ground, including a six-month-old baby.

Doyle, who it emerged has a previous convictions for serious assaults that prompted him to be thrown out of the Marines, had claimed he feared for his life, but Judge Andrew Menary KC, jailing him for 21 years and six months, said his accounts were false.

It came on a dramatic day in court where:

• It was revealed Doyle had previously bitten part of a man's ear off in a “drunken fight with sailors” 32 years ago

• Hero ex-soldier Daniel Barr, who stopped Doyle's car, was given a High Sheriff's Award for his bravery

• Victims, including a woman who fled the war in Ukraine, bravely shared the lasting trauma inflicted by Doyle

• Doyle showed no reaction when he was sent to his cell after sentencing

Delivering his sentence at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Menary, told Doyle it was “impossible to comprehend any right-thinking person could act as you did”. He added: “To drive into crowds of pedestrians with such persistence and disregard for human life defies ordinary understanding.”

Describing the dashcam footage from Doyle's vehicle, shown to the court on Monday, as “truly shocking”, Judge Menary said it was difficult to put into words the scene of devastation as thousands gathered to celebrate Liverpool FC winning the Premier League.