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An ex- Royal Marines Commando acted as a “man in a rage” when he mowed down scores of LFC fans at a championship celebration, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.

“The footage was deeply disturbing.”

Victims of Paul Doyle cried while dashcam footage showed bodies spinning through the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”

The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty at the start of his trial last month to 31 offences involving 21 adults and eight children.

‘Consumed by Anger’

The prosecution warned the court that the footage from the defendant’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the father of three yelling “expletives” as well as “fucking move” as he drove towards a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as his car horn blared.

The court was told that Doyle acted as a “individual whose anger had completely overpowered him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, accelerating as people collided with his car.

Scale of the Carnage

Overall, the former Royal Marine injured 134 individuals in just seven minutes – including more than 50 requiring hospital care. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway when Doyle’s car hit his pram, according to testimony.

A supporter, Simon Nash, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a laceration to the back of his head, broken ribs and numerous scrapes.

The defendant was heard screaming “for God’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” prior to driving deeper into panicked fans, among them an older woman and young children who were dragged under the car.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, the prosecution said approximately a million individuals had attended “what they thought would be a joyous occasion” marking the football club’s championship win. The celebratory atmosphere swiftly became “terror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion who had been at the parade.

“Some at the scene thought that what was taking place constituted a terrorist incident.”

Brave Intervention Stops Driver

As bodies lay on the ground, the vehicle’s path was stopped by an ex-army member, Dan Barr, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Despite this, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

In his police interview, Doyle stated he acted in a “blind panic” because he feared for his life. However, the prosecution argued that the video demonstrated Doyle “just lost his temper in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “Consumed by anger, he targeted the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

Footage indicated Doyle was driving recklessly before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and running red lights. He ignored road closures and bypassed other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.

The defendant is understood to be facing a prison sentence of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.