Paul Doyle, the man who drove a car into a Liverpool victory parade, has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison for a horrific rampage that left 134 people injured.
Chaos at the Victory Parade
The incident occurred on May 26 during a Liverpool football victory celebration. Doyle, a married father-of-three, drove his Ford Galaxy into crowds on Water Street after taking advantage of a gap created for an ambulance. Prosecutors stated that fans reacted with "terror" as Doyle blared his horn and shouted at people to move, ignoring their visible fear.
His vehicle only came to a final halt after hitting an ambulance and then four people became trapped underneath. The stop was forced by the brave actions of member of the public Dan Barr, who crawled into the moving car and put it into park. By this point, the vehicle was surrounded by an irate crowd who were banging on the roof and smashing windows.
Dramatic Police Rescue Captured on Bodycam
As the hostile crowd began to drag Doyle from his car, police intervened. Newly released bodycam footage shows the critical moment officers bundled Doyle into the back of a police van for his own protection. An officer is heard shouting "get him in" before ordering Doyle to "get on the floor".
Authorities described the police response as "brave and effective", executed in the "midst of a hostile crowd". Doyle sustained minor injuries from blows struck by the crowd before his rescue. Detectives later noted that Doyle was "thankful" to the police and cooperative during his interview.
Guilty Plea and Lengthy Sentence
Doyle eventually pleaded guilty to 31 offences against 21 adults and eight children. The charges included 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. His own dashcam recorded the entire incident.
During questioning, Doyle claimed he acted in "fear and panic", a claim officers dismissed as "clearly untrue". On December 16, 2025, at Liverpool Crown Court, he received his substantial sentence for one of the city's most shocking crimes.
In total, the reckless attack resulted in injuries to 134 parade attendees, leaving a lasting scar on the community. The court heard how the crowd's justifiable anger turned to violence against Doyle before police swiftly removed him from the scene, an action that likely saved him from more serious harm.
