A British man has pleaded guilty to intentionally driving his car into a crowd celebrating Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory. The incident in May injured more than 130 people, including eight children.
Paul Doyle changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The 31 charges include nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, and dangerous driving.
Doyle sobbed in the dock as the charges were read, responding “guilty” to each one. Judge Andrew Menary warned Doyle that a lengthy prison sentence is “inevitable.” Sentencing is scheduled for next month.
#BREAKING | We can confirm Paul Doyle has today, Wednesday 26 November, pleaded guilty to 31 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent, attempting to cause GBH, dangerous driving and affray.
Doyle, 54, formerly of Burghill Road, West Derby, was due… pic.twitter.com/VG7yOsRAKM
— Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) November 26, 2025The attack occurred during a public parade celebrating Liverpool’s title win. Approximately one million people attended the event. According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), dashcam footage showed Doyle becoming increasingly agitated by the crowds before he deliberately steered his Ford Galaxy into pedestrians.
The vehicle came to a stop only after hitting numerous people, at which point angry fans converged on it. Authorities expressed relief that no one was killed. Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald of Merseyside Police stated it was “only by sheer luck that nobody was killed because of Doyle’s reckless actions.”
Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said the act “struck at the heart of a city united in joy, leaving fear in its wake.” She described it as “an act of calculated violence” and not a momentary lapse. The celebration was particularly significant as the team’s last title win in 2020 could not be marked with a public parade due to COVID-19 restrictions.
