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An ex- Royal Marines Commando acted as a “person consumed by fury” as he drove into scores of Liverpool football club fans during a championship celebration, an incident many initially feared to be a act of terrorism, a court has heard.

“The video was profoundly upsetting.”

Those injured of Paul Doyle cried as dashcam footage showed bodies spinning through the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”

The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday following his guilty plea at the start of his trial last month to 31 offences involving 29 victims, including eight minors.

‘Consumed by Anger’

Prosecutors stated the court that the footage from Doyle’s large people carrier proved to be “truly shocking”. It showed the father of three yelling “expletives” as well as “move out of the way” as he drove towards 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 had completely overpowered him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, accelerating while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Scale of the Carnage

Overall, the ex-marine hurt 134 individuals within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” uninjured even though he was left on the roadway after the vehicle struck his stroller, the court heard.

One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, suffering a laceration on his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.

The defendant was heard screaming “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, lawyers said about 1 million people had attended “an event they believed to be a joyous occasion” marking the football club’s championship win. The celebratory atmosphere swiftly became “terror”, it was said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.

“Some at the scene believed the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, a man identified in court, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

In his police interview, Doyle stated he acted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. However, the prosecution argued that the video demonstrated the defendant “simply lost control in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “In a rage, he drove into the crowd and as he did so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

The video showed the driver was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He ignored road closures and bypassed other vehicles, including an ambulance and police cars, as he entered the crowds.

The defendant is expected to receive a jail term of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.