Paul Doyle has been sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison after driving into a crowd at Liverpool's Premier League-winning victory parade in May 2025. The judge said Doyle acted in an “inexplicable and undiluted fury” when he ploughed into crowds as Liverpool celebrated their 2025/26 Premier League title win under Arne Slot.
After winning England's top flight with four matches to spare, Slot's men celebrated with an open-top trophy parade through Liveprool's City Centre. They were joined by thousands of supporters on May 29 – but the celebrations were cut short when a man, later named as dad-of-three Doyle, drove through the crowds on Water Street in Liverpool.
The judge of the case says the fact that Doyle – who 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 – had not committed any offences for over three decades, alongside his efforts to turn his life around after a 'troubling start' to early adulthood, was taken into account.
Doyle Sentenced to 21 Years and Six Months in Prison
Liverpool parade
Liverpool parade
Doyle, a former royal marine who was immediately arrested at the scene, had already pleaded guilty to 31 offences after he drove into the crowds on Water Street, and he will serve two-thirds in custody and will also face a three-year driving ban after his release from prison. The judge added that Doyle acted in a "inexplicable and undiluted fury” when he ploughed through the crowds in the city centre before adding:
“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.”
The judge told Doyle: "For no reason other than impatience and arrogance, your driving into the city was routinely dangerous. In poor weather conditions you repeatedly undertook other vehicles, took road hazards too quickly and drove through traffic lights at a junction. You frightened pedestrians, leaning on your horn and shouting obscenities such as ‘get out of the f****** way’.”
Doyle bowed his head in the dock as the judge started to read out a list of the injuries caused in the collision. Reports have claimed that the 54-year-old showed no emotion when handed the lengthy sentence after his two-day sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court.
Reports state that he "stared straight ahead, blinking, with no expression as the judge handed down his sentence" before adding there was no reaction from the former royal marine as he was taken down from the dock by prison officers at Liverpool crown court."
Merseyside Police Release Statement
After Doyle's sentence was passed, Merseyside Police released a statement from Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald. It read: "Paul Doyle is today starting a lengthy prison sentence as a consequence of his actions on 26 May this year. It is difficult to comprehend the devastating impact the events of that day have had, and continue to have, on so many people.
"On what should have been a day of celebration for the city Doyle chose to act in an aggressive and dangerous manner with no regard for the safety and wellbeing of other people. No prison sentence will be able to undo his actions on that day or heal those who continue to suffer physically and psychologically as a result of what they endured and witnessed on the streets of the city."
"Our thoughts remain with everyone affected and I hope that now the judicial process has finished those people will be able to start moving on and rebuild their lives," the statement continued. "I hope that the prison sentence will also give the chance to reflect on his actions and the impact they had."