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An ex- Royal Marines Commando acted as a “person consumed by fury” when he mowed down scores of Liverpool football club fans at a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, a court has heard.

“The video was deeply disturbing.”

Victims of Paul Doyle cried while video from the car’s camera depicted people being thrown into the air while he sped towards the gathering while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”

Doyle, 54, is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty at the start of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges against 29 victims, including eight minors.

‘Consumed by Anger’

The prosecution stated the court that the footage from Doyle’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy proved to be “truly shocking”. It showed the parent yelling “expletives” and “fucking move” while he headed straight for a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as his car horn blared.

It was stated in court that Doyle acted as a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he ploughed further into the crowd, accelerating while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Extent of the Injuries

In total, the former Royal Marine hurt 134 individuals in just seven minutes – with over fifty requiring hospital care. An infant was “miraculously” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway after the vehicle struck his stroller, the court heard.

One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration to the back of his head, rib fractures and multiple abrasions.

Doyle was heard screaming “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, lawyers said approximately a million individuals had attended “an event they believed to be a joyous occasion” marking the football club’s championship win. The celebratory atmosphere swiftly became “terror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend from the parade route.

“Some at the scene believed what was taking place constituted a terrorist incident.”

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was stopped by a former soldier, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Despite this, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

During questioning, Doyle stated he reacted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage demonstrated Doyle “simply lost control in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “In a rage, he drove into the crowd and as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

Footage showed Doyle had been driving dangerously prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He ignored road closures and weaved around other cars, including an ambulance and police cars, as he entered the crowds.

The defendant is understood to be facing a jail term of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.