Paul Doyle has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people at the Liverpool Football Club victory parade celebrations on May 26.

Paul Doyle, 54, appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (December 16), for his two-day sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to 31 offences relating to seriously injuring people during the incident.

On November 26, Doyle, formerly of West Derby, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, three counts of wounding, and one count each of dangerous driving and affray.

Prosecutors told the court that, in the space of just two minutes, Doyle’s Ford Galaxy – weighing 1.9 tonnes – had hit “well over 100 people” and he was “prepared to cause those in the crowd, even children, serious harm if necessary to achieve his aim of getting through”.

Liverpool Crown Court was told the 54-year-old flew into a “rage” and ploughed through more than 100 people in the space of two minutes | Peter Byrne/PA Wire

placeholder image — Liverpool Crown Court was told the 54-year-old flew into a “rage” and ploughed through more than 100 people in the space of two minutes | Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Paul Doyle sat up straight and looked at the judge as he began his sentencing remarks. He nodded as the judge said his guilty pleas meant witnesses did not need to give evidence. Judge Andrew Menary KC told Paul Doyle his “disregard for human life defies ordinary understanding”.

He told the defendant: “It is almost impossible to comprehend how any right-thinking person could act as you did. To drive a vehicle into crowds of pedestrians with such persistence and disregard for human life defies ordinary understanding.” The judge added: “Your actions caused horror and devastation on a scale not previously encountered by this court.”

Paul Doyle bowed his head as Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC began to detail the injuries caused in the crash. Wearing glasses, a dark suit and white shirt, Doyle looked directly at the judge for most of the remarks.

Despite having cried throughout much of the hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, he was not in tears as the judge described his actions on May 26.

Paul Doyle stared straight ahead, blinking, with no expression as the judge revealed his sentence. There was no reaction from him as he was taken down from the dock by prison officers at Liverpool Crown Court.