Parade carnage driver jailed after 'horror' at Liverpool celebration

THE driver who ploughed through crowds at Liverpool FC's victory parade, injuring 134 supporters, has been jailed for 21 years and six months.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

A screen grab taken from video footage issued by Merseyside Police of Paul Doyle's car, top centre, being driven through the crowd on Water Street

Paul Doyle, 54, was travelling into the city centre to collect friends on May 26 when he "lost his temper" and drove his Ford Galaxy directly into supporters making their way home from the Premier League title celebrations.

Dashcam footage from the vehicle, played in court, showed the shocking moments when fans were thrown onto the bonnet of the car or fell underneath as he accelerated down Water Street, which had been closed to traffic, at about 6pm.

Doyle, who could be heard in the footage swearing and shouting at supporters to "move", had initially denied 31 offences he was charged with.

But last month, moments before the prosecution was due to open his trial, he changed his pleas to admit all the charges.

The former Royal Marine cried as he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent.

The 29 victims named in the indictment ranged in age from six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whose pram was thrown in the air in the crash, and 77-year-old Susan Passey.

Doyle stared straight ahead, blinking, with no expression as the judge revealed his sentence.

There was no reaction from the defendant, who had sobbed for much of the two-day hearing, as he was taken down from the dock by prison officers.