Liverpool victory parade crash suspect Paul Doyle dramatically changes pleas to guilty

The man accused of the Liverpool victory parade crash has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and affray.

Paul Doyle, 54, is accused of driving his Ford Galaxy into crowds of footy fans who were gathered in the city center on May 26.

Today, he changed his plea to guilty, admitting nine counts of grievous bodily harm with intent. He said he isn’t guilty of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one of wounding with intent and one of attempting GBH with intent.

He’s been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing, which begins on December 15. 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.

He had previously denied the offenses, all relating to the incident on May 26, which happened as crowds were gathered in the city to celebrate the football team’s Premier League title win.

Doyle, a former Royal Marine commando, appeared wiped away tears as the judge told him he could sit down after he entered the plea.

Yesterday, he was charged with 31 offenses, including assault against one six-month-old and one seven-month-old.

In total, he was charged with 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, three counts of wounding with intent, affray and dangerous driving.

Liverpool Football Club were celebrating winning their second Premier League title when the car drove into crowds.

More than 130 people reported injuries after Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into crowds on Water Street just after 6 pm on May 26.

The team bus had travelled down The Strand, which passes the end of Water Street, before the incident and the parade was coming to a close, with supporters heading home.

In May, Merseyside Police said they believed the driver had followed an ambulance onto Water Street after a road block was temporarily lifted for crews to attend to a person having a heart attack.

He was arrested at the scene and charged later that week.

The charges relate to 29 victims, aged between six months and 77 years old.

The youngest alleged victim was Teddy Eveson, whose parents later told the media he was thrown about 15 feet down the road in his pram when the crash happened.

Doyle, of Croxteth, Liverpool, was admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to the baby.

Five other children, who Doyle is alleged to have either injured or attempted to injure, cannot be named for legal reasons.

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