The man accused of the Liverpool parade crash has changed his pleas to guilty.
Paul Doyle admitted on the second day of his trial to seriously injuring people when he drove into football fans celebrating Liverpool’s victory parade on May 26.
The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent at Liverpool Crown Court this morning.
A jury was sworn in for his trial on Tuesday but today, when the prosecution case was due to be opened, Doyle was asked to re-enter his pleas to the charges.
He sat with his head down and sobbed as he changed his pleas, speaking with a broken voice as he occasionally wiped away tears as the charges were read to him again.
He had previously denied the offences which happened as crowds were gathered in the city to celebrate the football team’s Premier League title win.
More than 130 people reported injuries after Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into crowds on Water Street just after 6pm.
He was arrested at the scene and charged later that week.
The incident on May 26 took place as Liverpool fans gathered in the city to celebrate the team's Premier League title win
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The charges relate to 29 victims, aged between six months and 77 years old.
The youngest victim was Teddy Eveson, whose parents later said he was thrown about 15 feet down the road in his pram when the crash happened.
Doyle, of Croxteth, Liverpool, admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to the baby.
The Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC told Doyle it was "inevitable" he would be facing a custodial sentence "of some length" following his change of pleas.
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The youngest victim was aged six months
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A sentencing date was set for December 15 at the same court.
Following Doyle’s change to guilty pleas, Merseyside Police Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald said: "It is hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day.
"What should have been a day of celebration for the city turned into a distressing and frightening experience which we know continues to have a physical and psychological impact on many people.
"Thousands of people had gathered in the city to watch the Liverpool FC parade and it is only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle’s reckless actions.
Doyle is set to be sentenced on December 15
|CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE
"In just seven minutes his dangerous driving meant that his car collided with more than 100 people, including children, in some cases trapping people underneath and causing serious injuries."
The police chief added that his thoughts remain with those who "continue to be affected" by the incident.
Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) Mersey-Cheshire, said: "By entering guilty pleas, Doyle has finally accepted that he intentionally drove into crowds of innocent people during Liverpool FC’s victory parade.
"Dashcam footage from Doyle’s vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds. Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through.
"Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence. This was not a momentary lapse by Doyle — it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem.
"I would like to commend the bravery of emergency services who acted swiftly at the scene. There can be no doubt that their actions saved lives.
"Liverpool as a city has shown resilience and unity in the face of this awful act, and I hope the victims, their families and anyone affected will feel justice has been done."