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A former Royal Marines Commando acted as a “person consumed by fury” as he mowed down scores of Liverpool football club fans at a victory parade, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, a court has heard.

“The footage was profoundly upsetting.”

Victims in the incident cried while video from the car’s camera showed people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”

The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty on the first day of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges against 21 adults and eight children.

‘A Man in a Rage’

Prosecutors warned the court that the video evidence from Doyle’s two-tonne Ford Galaxy was “extremely graphic”. It showed the parent yelling “expletives” and “move out of the way” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

It was stated in court that Doyle was a “man in a rage whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, accelerating as people collided with his car.

Extent of the Injuries

In total, the ex-marine hurt 134 individuals in just seven minutes – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. An infant was “remarkably” unharmed despite being left splayed on the road after the vehicle struck his stroller, according to testimony.

One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a cut on his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.

The defendant could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror

Addressing a packed courtroom, lawyers said approximately a million individuals were present at “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” to celebrate the football club’s championship win. Scenes of jubilation turned to “horror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.

“Witnesses thought that the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

As bodies lay on the ground, Doyle’s rampage was stopped by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

In his police interview, the defendant stated he reacted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, the prosecution argued that the video demonstrated the defendant “just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he drove into the crowd and in doing so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

The video indicated the driver was driving recklessly before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He disregarded road closures and bypassed other vehicles, including an ambulance and police cars, as he entered the crowds.

The defendant is understood to be facing a prison sentence of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.