Liverpool parade attack: driver ‘appalled by his own conduct’ as judge begins sentencing – live
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He says his client accepts full responsibility for his crimes in Liverpool.He is “horrified” and “remorseful, ashamed and deeply sorry for all those who have suffered,” Csoka said.“He accepts full responsibility, he expects no sympathy.”Prosecutor Greaney says that run of convictions in Doyle’s early history would aggravate the seriousness of his offences in Liverpool.However, he said the prosecution also recognised that in the 30 years between his prison release in 1995 and his actions in Liverpool in May, “the defendant had taken steps to live a positive and productive life.” During that period, he was convicted of no offences. I am not the same person I was before it happened, and it continues to affect my life in every way.”Jumoke Ofuya, 24, said in his statement to Liverpool Crown Court: “I count myself lucky to have not been killed when this happened, and I had been waking up – multiple nights each week in the early aftermath of the attack – struggling to escape from this nightmare that sees me trapped under the car with little chance of survival.”The court has heard that Susan Passey, 77, spent 27 nights in hospital and was worried she would not be able to walk unaided again due to the attack.She said: “I feel hurt my life will never be the same again, through no fault of my own.”Doyle was seen sobbing in the dock as he looked at the floor while the statement was read.Passey’s son Ian, 47, said he got up from the ground after being hit by Doyle’s car to realise he had lost sight of his mother.
He said he still had vivid nightmares and was unable to go into large crowds.He said: “The actions on May 26 of one man will change mine and mum’s life for ever.”Some of those sitting in public gallery were in tears during the statement.'Trauma' from parade attack has 'taken me to a darker place than my cancer battle'In a statement read to the court, David Price, 44, said he was invited to Liverpool to celebrate the end of metastatic stage 3c testicular cancer.He said: This weekend was meant to be joyful, a symbol of recovery and hope after surviving one of the darkest periods of my life. Price said as Doyle’s car came towards him, he thought: “This is it”.He added: I truly believe that if I hadn’t instinctively lifted myself off the bonnet, I would have been dragged underneath.
That fear, raw and paralysing, has stayed with me every day since. 'I don't recognise the person I have become' since being injured by DoyleStefan Dettlaff, 73, has said he no longer feels capable of looking after his family due to the devastating impacts of the attack.Dettlaff’s statement read: “I was the man of the house, protective of my wife and kids, the one they could turn to and know I’d be there to help.“But now I feel a wreck. I don’t recognise the person I have become, I no longer feel strong, no longer feel capable of looking after my family.”Dettlaff said he had seen his wife, Hilda, 74, go from a “strong, independent, caring wife and mum to a shell of a person that sometimes I don’t recognise”.'I used to feel a deep sense of pride looking at the Liverpool skyline... now it fills me with fear'Sam Alexander, 31, said he feared his fiancee, Hannah O’Neill, 30, was dead when he was hit by Doyle’s car on 26 May.He said: “When I am in moment of calm, I become angry because I can’t define a motivation, there is no logic, it makes no sense.”O’Neill said their wedding plans are now on hold, adding: I used to feel a deep sense of pride and belonging when I looked at the Liverpool skyline.