UK Man Admits Guilt in Deliberate Vehicle Attack on Liverpool Victory Parade Crowds: 134 Injured

A British man broke down in court Wednesday as he dramatically changed his plea and admitted deliberately driving his car into crowds at Liverpool's Premier League victory parade, injuring numerous people.

Paul Doyle had previously denied 31 criminal charges, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent, affray and dangerous driving during the May incident in Liverpool city centre.

On the second day of his trial, as prosecutors prepared to present evidence against him, the 54-year-old unexpectedly changed his plea. Wearing a suit and glasses, he sobbed while repeatedly saying "guilty" in a faltering voice to each count.

Judge Andrew Menary announced sentencing would take place over two days beginning December 15, warning Doyle to expect "a custodial sentence of some length." The most serious offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The father-of-three, reportedly a former Royal Marine, has been in custody since his arrest and will remain imprisoned until sentencing.

Doyle, from a Liverpool suburb, drove his nearly two-tonne Ford Galaxy Titanium into pedestrians who were departing from the parade celebrating Liverpool Football Club's victory on May 26. According to Merseyside Police, he injured 134 people, including infants, children, and adults. While no fatalities occurred, 50 individuals required hospital treatment.

The incident took place as crowds celebrated Liverpool claiming a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. The parade along the city's waterfront had attracted hundreds of thousands of fans.

Police quickly confirmed the incident was not terrorism-related. It now appears to have been an extreme case of road rage.

Prosecutors stated that Doyle had driven into the city centre to collect friends who had attended the parade, making dangerous maneuvers shortly after leaving home.

Sarah Hammond, the Crown Prosecution Service's top regional prosecutor, said in a statement that dash-cam footage showed Doyle becoming "increasingly agitated by the crowds" and that "rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through," describing it as "an act of calculated violence."

"This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle -- it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem," she added.

The prosecution had planned to present evidence showing he repeatedly swore and honked his horn at pedestrians as his anger grew at their presence on the roads.

After striking the first victims, he continued down another street hitting more people, reversing at one point and colliding with others as well as an ambulance, before later driving into a pram. Toddler Teddy Eveson was thrown from the pram but fortunately escaped injury.

The car eventually stopped after several people, including children, became trapped beneath it. A pedestrian jumped inside during the final 16 seconds of the incident and pushed the automatic transmission into park, helping to halt the vehicle.

Prosecutors noted that Doyle had initially planned to contest the charges by claiming he panicked and feared for his life after some of the car's windows were smashed when the crowd turned hostile.

Originally charged with seven offences, 24 additional counts were filed in August. The charges related to 29 victims, including eight children. The youngest victim was six-month-old Teddy, while the oldest was in their late 70s.

Merseyside Police Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald remarked that it was "hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day" and that it was "only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle's reckless actions."

A Liverpool FC spokesman stated the club hoped Doyle's conviction "brings some peace to all those affected by the horrific incident." He added thanks to emergency services and others who responded, saying, "Their actions undoubtedly saved lives and exemplified the spirit of our city."