Liverpool parade attack: driver’s ‘disregard for life defies understanding,’ says judge as he begins sentencing – live

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Paul Doyle's lawyer says client is 'appalled by own conduct'Doyle, who pleaded guilty last month, is “appalled by his own conduct”, his barrister Simon Csoka continues.His client that day had not left the house with the intention of driving into the crowd and causing harm – he had gone to the parade to help pick up a friend and his friend’s children.His sudden action to turn on the crowd was “unexpected and incomprehensible”.“The spiralling effect of his conduct was utterly unexpected by him and utterly unexpected by all those who know him well.”Key eventsnowJudge says Doyle caused 'scenes of devastation' as he 'deliberately' drove into crowd18m agoPaul Doyle's lawyer says client is 'appalled by own conduct'22m agoDoyle 'remorseful' and 'deeply sorry' - lawyer43m agoDoyle had history of assault convictions including biting off man's ear1h ago'Trauma' from parade attack has 'taken me to a darker place than my cancer battle'1h ago'I don't recognise the person I have become' since being injured by Doyle2h ago'I used to feel a deep sense of pride looking at the Liverpool skyline... now it fills me with fear'2h ago'The physical scars are visible, but the emotional ones run deeper'2h ago'I have not yet felt able to return to Liverpool'2h ago'The horror of not knowing whether he was alive or dead will haunt me forever'2h ago'Even hearing the Liverpool accent can trigger anxiety'2h agoHearing at Liverpool crown court resumes2h agoMan who drove into Liverpool FC parade due to be sentencedShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureJudge says Doyle caused 'scenes of devastation' as he 'deliberately' drove into crowdIn his sentencing remarks the judge said that Doyle drove “dangerously” into the city centre of Liverpool during the football celebrations and “deliberately” drove “into and over more than 100 pedestrians”, using his vehicle in a way that transformed it into a “weapon”.“You made the conscious choice to drive past the cones and into the heart of the crowd,” he said.“The footage is truly shocking. 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. 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.