A man who deliberately drove his car into crowds celebrating a Liverpool FC victory parade, using the vehicle as a weapon in a fit of rage, has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison.
Seven Minutes of Mayhem
Paul Doyle, 54, launched a terrifying seven-minute attack during the parade on December 16, 2025. The father-of-three, previously described as a "family man", was convicted of multiple serious charges including 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and nine counts of causing GBH with intent.
Distressing evidence presented in court, including dashcam footage, captured Doyle shouting obscenities at pedestrians, revving his engine, and weaving through traffic. He was heard yelling "it's a f*****g road" and "move out the f****** way" as he accelerated his 1.9-tonne Ford Galaxy into the celebrating throng.
A Mother's Worst Fear
Among the many victims was 37-year-old Sheree Aldridge, whose six-month-old son, Teddy, was in his pram. In a powerful victim impact statement, Aldridge recounted the horrific moment Doyle's car struck them.
She described seeing her baby's pushchair thrown into the air and landing further up the road. "I thought my Teddy was dead," she wrote. "I thought I was next. I thought my children would grow up without a mother." Her partner, Dan Eveson, had dressed their son in a Liverpool shirt for the occasion, excited to share the moment with him before the chaos erupted.
The victims' ages ranged from just six months old to a 77-year-old woman, with many suffering serious injuries as they were thrown onto the car's bonnet or trapped underneath it.
Sentencing and Condemnation
At sentencing, Judge Menary was unequivocal in his condemnation of Doyle's actions. He stated that the dashcam evidence revealed the truth: Doyle had "lost his temper in a rage" and was "determined to force your way through the crowd regardless of the consequences."
The judge categorised the offence as the highest level of culpability, noting that Doyle had used his motor vehicle as a "highly dangerous weapon" capable of inflicting fatal injuries. "You had repeated opportunities to stop and chose instead to continue regardless," Judge Menary said, highlighting that Doyle had even admitted intending to cause serious harm to children.
The sentence marks the end of a case that left physical and psychological scars on a community gathered for a day of celebration, which was violently transformed into a scene of trauma and panic.
