Paul Doyle, a father-of-three described as the "perfect family man" who turned a day of celebration for supporters into a scene of terror, now faces the prospect of a substantial prison term.
Following his change of plea to guilty on all 31 charges — including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm with intent — the 54-year-old has been remanded in custody whilst awaiting sentencing. As he prepares for his court appearance next month, legal specialists caution that, while his belated guilty plea may provide some mitigation, he faces a rigorous and structured life in prison.
Doyle's guilty plea was entered on the second day of his trial, a decision that meant victims and their relatives were spared the trauma of providing testimony. Nevertheless, according to legal specialist James Pipe, the timing of his plea will influence the credit granted by the judge and the conditions he will experience whilst imprisoned. It comes as prosecutors explained Doyle's reason for causing the crash.
"Legally, a late guilty plea still brings some benefit," Pipe explains. "He won't receive the full one-third reduction given for early admissions, but the judge can still apply a smaller discount. It also removes the uncertainty of a jury trial, and spares the victims' families from reliving the incident in court — something judges do take into account."
Doyle is scheduled for sentencing on 15 and 16 December before Judge Andrew Menary KC, who has already indicated the defendant should anticipate an "inevitable" custodial sentence of "some length."
The court was told that dashcam footage from Doyle's Ford Galaxy proved vital to the prosecution. It revealed the driver becoming "increasingly agitated" by crowds celebrating Liverpool FC's Premier League title triumph, before he drove into them.
"Mitigation such as previous good character, genuine remorse, and cooperation with the process will be considered, but they won't override the seriousness of the offence," Pipe notes. "The dashcam evidence indicating rising frustration and a moment of rage could work against him, as it suggests impulsive but deliberate behaviour rather than an unavoidable accident."
Doyle's mugshot released
Doyle changed his plea to guilty on all 31 charges after the Liverpool parade incident (Image: CPS)
For a 54-year-old man facing imprisonment for the first time, the adjustment to life behind bars will be substantial. Presently held on remand, Doyle will ultimately be classified and transferred to a prison suited to his risk category, experts suggest.
"In practical terms, a custodial sentence is still very likely," says Pipe. "His life inside will depend heavily on his risk level and behaviour, but first-time offenders who plead guilty and show remorse are typically placed on safer, more supervised wings and encouraged into rehabilitation programmes early."
Whilst Doyle's legal representatives may seek leniency based on his personal situation, the enormous extent of the injuries — affecting 29 named victims aged between six months and 77 years — means he will probably spend a significant number of years removed from society. Criminologist and psychologist Alex Izsatt has told The Mirror that Doyle could be facing a prison term of between 10 and 20 years.
Paul Doyle changed his plea at the last minute
More than 130 people were injured in the incident (Image: DARREN STAPLES, AFP via Getty Images)
"His lawyers they may have persuaded him to change the plea on the evidence presented as the chances of acquittal or even a more favourable verdict as very slim," Izsatt says.
"A late guilty plea can limit the reduction in sentence, the court will have to weigh the number of victims, severity of injuries, and the scale of risk. Also previous good character and visible remorse could soften the sentence slightly, but it's likely that due to the number of victims that, a long-term prison term is almost certain probably 10 to 20 years.
"As it's a high-profile case, Paul may start in a high security prison, and be moved at a later date, depending on good behavior. If he's prone to emotional breakdowns, they may provide segregation or protective custody initially. It's likely he will face a tough time from other inmates due to the range of victims as well as the fact he drove into football fans."
More than 130 individuals sustained injuries when the vehicle plowed into crowds shortly after 6 p.m. local time on May 26. Authorities described it as "sheer luck" that there were no fatalities, with Det Ch Insp John Fitzgerald, from Merseyside Police, stating: "His driving, even before he reached Dale Street, was aggressive and dangerous and he was seen to undertake vehicles, jump lanes and run through a red light."
The charges Doyle is facing are of a grave nature.
The majority fall under Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, encompassing unlawful wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The harshest penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.