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An ex- Royal Marine acted as a “man in a rage” as he drove into dozens of Liverpool football club supporters during a victory parade, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, a court has heard.

“The video is deeply disturbing.”

Those injured in the incident wept as dashcam footage showed bodies spinning through the air while he sped towards the gathering while screaming: “Get out of the way!”

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

‘Consumed by Anger’

The prosecution warned the court that the video evidence from the defendant’s large people carrier was “truly shocking”. The recording revealed the father of three shouting “expletives” as well as “move out of the way” as he drove towards a large crowd of supporters, with people frantically dragging children to safety as he blasted the horn.

The court was told that Doyle was a “man in a rage 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.

Extent of the Injuries

Overall, the ex-marine injured 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. A six-month-old boy was “miraculously” unharmed even though he was left on the roadway after the vehicle struck his stroller, the court heard.

One fan, a man named in court, was shown being thrown into the air by the car, suffering a cut on his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.

Doyle was heard screaming “for God’s sake move! Get out of my path!” before ploughing further 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, lawyers said about 1 million people were present at “what they thought would be a day of joyfulness” to celebrate Liverpool winning their 20th league title. The celebratory atmosphere swiftly became “horror”, the prosecutor said, when the driver entered the crowd while trying to collect a companion from the parade route.

“Witnesses thought that the events unfolding constituted a terrorist incident.”

Rampage Halted by Heroic Act

With injured people on the street, the vehicle’s path was stopped by an ex-army member, Dan Barr, who climbed into a rear passenger seat and held the car’s gear selector in “park”. Even then, Doyle continued pressing the gas pedal, the court heard.

In his police interview, the defendant stated he acted in a “blind panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, the prosecution argued that the dashcam footage showed the defendant “simply lost control in his determination to reach his destination”. It was further stated: “Consumed by anger, he drove into the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”

Dangerous Driving Prior to Incident

The video showed Doyle was driving recklessly prior to entering downtown, overtaking cars dangerously and running red lights. He disregarded traffic diversion measures and bypassed other vehicles, including an ambulance and police cars, as he approached the packed streets.

Doyle is understood to be facing a jail term of over a decade at his sentencing hearing.