A man who drove his car into a crowd of more than 100 people during a Premier League victory parade in Liverpool has been revealed to have a shocking history of violence, including biting a man's ear off in a drunken fight.
Violent Past Revealed in Court
During sentencing proceedings, the prosecution outlined Paul Doyle's extensive criminal record. The court heard that on 31 October 1991, while serving in the Royal Marines, he struck another person several times in the face with a clenched fist.
More disturbingly, a search of the Police National Computer (PNC) revealed an offence on 2 July 1993 where Doyle bit off another man's ear during a fight. When questioned by police about the recent parade incident, Doyle explained this earlier offence resulted from a drunken fight with sailors.
A Pattern of Aggression and Discharge
The pattern of violence continued. On 2 February 1992, Doyle was convicted of using violence against a superior officer. This led to his discharge from the Royal Marines on 11 January 1993.
Even after his discharge, his violent conduct persisted. While serving briefly in the Royal Marine Reserve, Doyle was convicted on 3 November 1994 for causing grievous bodily harm. For this, Preston Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment.
The Horrific Parade Attack
This violent past provides a grim backdrop to the events of Monday, 26 May. Prosecutors stated Doyle "used his car as a weapon" after flying into a rage, driving into the crowd on Water Street in Liverpool city centre shortly after 6pm.
The 54-year-old, of Burghill Road in West Derby, pleaded guilty to a total of 31 charges. These include 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. The victims named in these charges ranged from six-month-old Teddy Eveson to children aged seven months, 10, 11, and 13, alongside numerous adults.
The human impact of his actions was laid bare in court, where 78 victim impact statements were submitted. Doyle was reported to have sat crying for much of this harrowing testimony as the full consequences of his actions were described.
