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A former Royal Marine was a “man in a rage” when he mowed down scores of Liverpool football club fans at a victory parade, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.

“The video was profoundly upsetting.”

Victims in the incident wept while video from the car’s camera depicted people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”

The 54-year-old defendant will learn his fate on Tuesday following his guilty plea at the start of his trial last month to 31 criminal charges involving 29 victims, including eight minors.

‘Consumed by Anger’

The prosecution stated those in court that the footage from Doyle’s large people carrier was “extremely graphic”. It showed the father of three shouting “expletives” as well as “move out of the way” while he headed straight for a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as his car horn blared.

It was stated in court that Doyle was a “individual whose anger whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, speeding up while individuals were struck by his vehicle.

Scale of the Carnage

Overall, the ex-marine hurt 134 individuals in just seven minutes – with over fifty who needed hospital treatment. An infant was “miraculously” uninjured despite being left splayed on the road after the vehicle struck his stroller, the court heard.

A supporter, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the vehicle, sustaining a cut on his head, broken ribs and multiple abrasions.

Doyle could be heard shouting “for God’s sake move! Get out of my path!” prior to driving deeper into screaming supporters, including an elderly woman and children who became trapped beneath the vehicle.

Celebration Descends into Chaos

Speaking to a full court, lawyers said approximately a million individuals were present at “an event they believed to be a day of joyfulness” to celebrate Liverpool winning their 20th league title. Scenes of jubilation swiftly became “terror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.

“Witnesses thought that the events unfolding was a terrorist attack.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

With injured people on the street, Doyle’s rampage was brought to a halt by an ex-army member, Dan Barr, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and forced the gearstick into park. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, according to evidence.

In his police interview, the defendant stated he acted in a “state of sheer panic” because he feared for his life. Yet, prosecutors contended that the dashcam footage demonstrated Doyle “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. The prosecutor added: “In a rage, he targeted the crowd and in doing so his intent was to cause serious injury.”

Reckless Behavior Before the Attack

Footage showed the driver had been driving dangerously before he reached the city centre, undertaking cars at speed and jumping red lights. He ignored traffic diversion measures and weaved around other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.

The defendant is understood to be facing a prison sentence of more than 10 years when he is sentenced on Tuesday.