Man changes pleas to guilty over incident at Liverpool victory parade

Updated
Paul Doyle is seen crying in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court
Paul Doyle is seen crying in the dock at Liverpool Crown CourtJulia Quenzler / SWNS / SWNS / Profimedia

The man accused of deliberately injuring more than 130 people during the Liverpool victory parade crash has pleaded guilty.

Paul Doyle, 54, had been charged with 31 offences relating to the incident on May 26th, when thousands gathered in Liverpool city centre to celebrate the club's Premier League title win.

Doyle previously denied 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.

But in a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, he changed his pleas by admitting to all charges at Liverpool Crown Court, relating to 29 victims aged between six months and 77 years old.

He has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing, which begins on December 15th.

Liverpool were celebrating the success of their record-equalling 20th top-flight league title when Doyle allegedly drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into celebrating crowds on Water Street at around 19:00 CET.

Merseyside Police said 134 people were injured as supporters headed home with the parade winding down to a close.

It was believed Doyle followed an ambulance through towards the parade, after a road was temporarily unblocked for the paramedics to treat a person having a heart attack.

He was swiftly arrested at the scene and charged later that week.

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crime Prosecution Service, said Doyle finally accepted that his actions to cause harm were intentional.

"By entering guilty pleas, Doyle has finally accepted that he intentionally drove into crowds of innocent people during Liverpool FC's victory parade," she said.

"Dashcam footage from Doyle's vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds. Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through.

"Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence. This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle – it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem."

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