Liverpool parade attack: Paul Doyle sentenced to more than 21 years for using car as weapon against celebrating crowd – as it happened

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“He had zero escalation – he was just on the tripwire.” He said Doyle became an “outcast” in his troop before he left the Marines in 1993: “Normal people would give him a wide berth. In this article, Daniel Barr, a former soldier, recalls how he brought an end to the attack as Doyle tried to accelerate further into the crowd of people on Liverpool’s Water Street in May.The judge at Liverpool crown court said that Daniel Barr’s heroic actions likely “saved lives”.He made a High Sheriff’s Award for Bravery and a monetary award of £250 in appreciation of his “exceptional courage and presence of mind”.Barr, who was in the public gallery, stood and was thanked by the judge.Doyle 'generated horror and chaos' during parade attack, CPS says, as it praises 'heroic actions' of man who brought an end to the rampageThe CPS has sent out a statement reacting to Doyle being sentenced to over 21 years for driving into a crowd at the Liverpool Premier League victory parade last May.James Allison, a special prosecutor at CPS Mersey Cheshire’s complex casework unit, said that Doyle not only injured people celebrating the Premier League win, but he “generated horror and chaos on what was meant to be a day of celebration”.Considering the possible reasons behind Doyle’s actions, Allison said the “truth is as simple as it is awful”.“Paul Doyle lost his temper and, in a rage, drove into people, intending to cause them serious harm,” Allison said, describing the dashcam footage showing his journey to Liverpool city centre that day as “truly shocking”.“Before he got to the city centre, he was driving aggressively, undertaking other cars and driving through red lights.

He did not know what he was facing when he did but knew he had to stop him. When he got into Paul Doyle’s car he had no thought for his own safety.

Doyle stared straight ahead, blinking, with no expression as the judge handed down his sentence.There was no reaction from the former royal marine as he was taken down from the dock by prison officers at Liverpool crown court.Doyle cried on several occasions in key parts of today’s session, including at points when the victim statements were read out.The judge says he took into account the fact that Doyle had not committed any offences for over three decades and had made efforts to turn his life around after a “troubling start” to early adulthood, including going to university.Character references described Doyle as a devoted husband, father, and good friend.Before passing his sentence, the judge acknowledged that the sentence he was about to pass – of 21 years and six months – is to have a “devastating” impact but said its length was proportionate given the “gravity” of the offences.The judge described the evidence against Doyle as overwhelming.Doyle sentenced to 21 years and six monthsThe judge has sentenced Paul Doyle to 21 years and six months in prison for his actions. He has also been disqualified from driving and this extends three years after his release.Doyle had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent.The judge said Doyle acted in an “inexplicable and undiluted fury” when he ploughed into crowds at Liverpool’s victory parade.He said: “A number of witnesses, including serving police officers, describe you continuing to press the accelerator, even when people were visibly underneath the car.“Your shouted expressions of frustration underline your state of mind at the time – not fear or panic, but an inexplicable and undiluted fury.”Judge Andrew Menary KC delivering remarks at Liverpool Crown Court in the sentencing of Paul Doyle.